International Journal of Critical Care

A Stroke Survivor Perspective on the Importance of Team and Never Giving Up

Dan Batchelder — 2023-01-01

This article aims to share a patient's account and perspective on the importance of team and never giving up after he suffered an ischemic stroke. His story begins with his onset of symptoms and the role of a quick-acting witness through emergency care, then acute hospitalization, followed by inpatient rehabilitation.

Historical Overview of Critical Care Nursing in Tanzania Culminating in its First Inaugural Conference in Tandem with the Sixth Conference of The African Federation of Critical Care Nurses

Zainab Manji — 2023-01-01

Critical care nursing is an emerging and growing facet of healthcare in Africa. This article provides a historical overview of critical care nursing in Africa, specifically in Tanzania. This includes the founding of the African Federation of Critical Care Nurses in 2017 and the Tanzania Critical Care Nurses Association in October 2022.

A Scoping Review of Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Acute Care of Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: Respiratory, Hemodynamic and Neuroprotective Management

Marianne Pearl Gregorio — 2023-01-31

Background: Given the complex nature of acute SCI management, there is a pressing need to review and evaluate existing clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). This study aims to evaluate CPGs and create a summary of recommendations related to the in-hospital acute management of SCI in three different areas: respiratory management, hemodynamic management and the use of neuroprotective agents.

Method: This study was conducted in accordance with the guidelines set by the Joanna Briggs Institute, and PRISMA-ScR. A search was conducted in thirteen databases and the gray literature. Screening and data extraction was completed by two independent reviewers against pre-specified eligibility criteria. The AGREE II tool was used to appraise the quality of the CPGs.

Results: The search identified 12 eligible studies. Seven (n=7) studies were published in the last five years. Overall, the recommendations were supported by low quality evidence. Based on the AGREE II quality appraisal, seven out of twelve CPGs can be recommended for use, and one can be recommended with modification. The following domains scored the highest average score: “Clarity of Presentation,” “Scope and Purpose,” and “Editorial Independence.” Domain 5 “Applicability” and domain 2 “Stakeholder Involvement” scored the lowest average score. While the majority of the recommendations were consistent, there were contradicting recommendations concerning the use of methylprednisolone.

Conclusion: The CPGs in the management of acute SCI are overall based on low-quality evidence. More evidence is needed to recommend for or against the use of methylprednisolone in acute SCI patients. Indeed, there is a need for the development of rigorous and up-to-date CPGs that is based on high-quality evidence.

Nursing Poster Award Abstracts from the 18th Emirates Critical Care Conference

Fatma Ahmed — 2023-01-01

These abstracts represent the nursing poster award abstracts from the 2022 18^th Emirates Critical Care Conference. Topics include the effectiveness of prehabilitation on improving the emotional recovery of patients undergoing open heart surgeries, shifting metaphysical paradigms in nursing, experience and the challenge of emergency and critical care nurses in identifying and managing arrhythmia at the Emergency Department of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and critical care nurses’ knowledge of correct administration line types for common intravenous medications.

Where Early Suspicion, Detection, and Treatment Advocacy in Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus: A Role for the Critical Care Nurse

Anne Alexandrov — 2023-01-01

None available

Qualitative Study of the Impact of Patient Satisfaction Surveys on Nurses in Ambulatory Neurosurgery

Caitlin Remaklus-Homan — 2023-01-01

ABSTRACT

Background: Literature on the impact of patient-satisfaction metrics on nursing staff is scarce and limits nurses’ ability to understand the impact these metrics have on their daily practice.

Aim: The aim of this qualitative study is to explore nurses’ perceptions of patient satisfaction surveys on their daily practice when working with patients with acute neurological changes.

Method: A content analysis approach was used to analyze interviews with six neurosurgical nurses. The analysis was conducted throughout the interview and analysis process, and guided interviews and rigor processes.

Results: Among the surveyed nurses, there was unified agreement that the current tool for obtaining the metrics did not accurately reflect the performance of the registered nurse. Themes that emerged from interview analysis included “anxiety”, “frustration”, “uncertainty”, and “workarounds”. Interviews uncovered a disconnect between clinical nurses and leadership, as well as how feedback is presented to nurses by patients, which drove many of the themes listed above. The nurses felt that the metrics should not be linked to individual performance feedback.

Conclusion: Nurses report that patient satisfaction surveys do not represent an ideal metric for quality of nursing care and impact their daily practice negatively. These results could be applied to improving the registered nurse performance evaluation tools utilized in neurological units.