Critical Care Newsline — November 1, 2012

Connect with AACN

Welcome to AACN CriticalCare eNewsline! We have a new name, enhanced functionality and a rich design; although it's more user-friendly, it still offers the same great clinical content you and your colleagues enjoy.

Instead of scrolling down to each section, you can click on the tabs — Action, Evidence, News, Resources, AACN News and Bookstore — to read the content under each one. Click on "top" to the right of each section, and you'll return to the beginning of the newsletter.

Every week we will also be highlighting several key products and resources for you in our Bookstore section as well as enhancing and expanding your career opportunities center.

We invite you to share your suggestions and comments by participating in a short survey. Once you complete the survey, you will be entered in a drawing for a $50 gift certificate for the AACN Online Bookstore. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Timothy Koegel

"The Exceptional Presenter: A Proven Formula to Open Up! and Own the Room"

Participate in Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Participate in November's Lung Cancer Awareness Month with suggestions from the Lung Cancer Alliance, Washington, D.C., that include contacting members of Congress, securing a proclamation from the governor and holding a Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Vigil or other event.

Join the online conversation

Join the daily online conversation with the AACN community on our Facebook page. Recent hot topics include the Beacon Award, AACN CSI Academy and NTI 2013 in Boston. Take a look, and please "Like" our page while you're there.

Reap the benefits of AACN PEARL

Have you experienced AACN PEARL and discovered what it can do for you? AACN PEARL: Implementing the ABCDE Bundle at the Bedside is an online collection of evidence-based tools and resources for sharing critical learning and implementing change in patient care units. Developed by clinical experts at AACN and in the field, AACN PEARL focuses on the ABCDE Bundle — a timely clinical topic — offering one-stop convenience and extended NTI education. The results of a recent survey of attendees at the 2012 National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI) indicate that more than 90 percent of nurses who accessed AACN PEARL were "satisfied" or "extremely satisfied" with the materials. Learn why clinicians feel AACN PEARL is "a great tool for a complex and comprehensive treatment plan" and use PEARL to "educate staff and MDs."

Nominate for 2014 Distinguished Research Lectureship

Nominate a nationally recognized nurse researcher, who must be an AACN member, to be the next AACN Distinguished Research Lecturer. Honorees represent a legacy of contributions to acute and critical care nursing. Now funded by a grant from Philips Healthcare, Andover, Mass., the award recognizes nurses whose program of research significantly influences high acuity and critical care. Submit your nomination by Saturday, Dec. 1.

Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score plus sTREM-1 helps diagnose VAP, study in AJCC says

"Diagnosing Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Critically Ill Patients With Sepsis," in November's American Journal of Critical Care (AJCC), finds that using the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score plus sTREM-1 (soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1) helps improve the diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and the combination of procalcitonin plus the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score may be useful for VAP prognosis.

Modifying acute psych reactions in ICU helps reduce future mental illness

"Acute psychological reactions" in the ICU are the "strongest modifiable risk factors for developing mental illness in the future," according to "Investigating Risk Factors for Psychological Morbidity Three Months After Intensive Care: A Prospective Cohort Study," published online Oct. 15 by Critical Care. More than half of the 157 patients in the study had psychological morbidity, and certain drugs were associated with different psychological outcomes.

Recent findings for interventional cardiac procedures

Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions posted the following studies online Oct. 16: 1) "Cost Effectiveness of Radial Access for Diagnostic Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Intervention," which finds radial access reduces "access site complications and overall costs" compared to femoral access; and 2) "Candidates for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR): Fitting the PARTNERS Criteria," which finds the number of patients with aortic stenosis who meet the criteria "can be low" and concludes "that either high volume valvular centers or regional referral centers will need to be considered as part of the strategy to incorporate this new technology into clinical practice."

FDA announces recall

On Oct. 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Md., announced a recall of the Symbiq infusion pump touchscreen, manufactured by Hospira, Lake Forest, Ill., because it may not respond to user selection, may experience a delayed response or may register a different value from the value selected by the user.

Study in AJCC finds many family members' psych symptoms linger more than three months after ICU experience

"Psychological Symptoms of Family Members of High-Risk Intensive Care Unit Patients," a continuing nursing education (CNE) article in November's American Journal of Critical Care (AJCC), found that family members' symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression significantly decreased three months after the ICU experience but noted that many family members still had significant risk for PTSD and borderline anxiety and depression.

Three studies for your reference

November's Critical Care Medicine includes three studies of interest to nurses: 1) "A Multicenter, Phased, Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial to Reduce Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Intensive Care Units" finds that a "multifaceted intervention involving evidence-based practices to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) and the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program to improve safety, teamwork and communication" reduced CLABSI and sustained the reductions 19 months later; 2) "Etomidate Is Associated With Mortality and Adrenal Insufficiency in Sepsis: A Meta-analysis" concludes that "administration of etomidate for rapid sequence intubation is associated with higher rates of adrenal insufficiency and mortality in patients with sepsis;" and 3) "Efficacy Spectrum of Antishivering Medications: Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials" finds significant variation in antishivering studies and concludes that "clonidine, meperidine, tramadol, nefopam and ketamine were the most frequently reported pharmacological interventions and showed a variable degree of efficacy in randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials."

Guidelines

Access "Educational and Psychological Interventions to Improve Outcomes for Recipients of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators and Their Families: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association," which Circulation published online Sept. 24.

'Let's Get Certified' campaign

In honor of Veterans Day, Nov. 11, AACN salutes the contributions of military nurses past and present and the nurses who care for our veterans. AACN and AACN Certification Corporation proudly support the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) "Let's Get Certified" campaign with discounts for AACN exams, membership, select review courses, products, books and recognition items. In its fifth year, the campaign seeks to increase the number of VA and U.S. Department of Defense specialty certified nurses, improve nursing recruitment and retention, and distinguish the VA as a learning organization. Learn more.

New edition of 'AACN Scope and Standards for Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practice'

"AACN Scope and Standards for Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practice" describes and measures the expected level of practice and professional performance for acute care nurse practitioners, incorporating advances in scientific knowledge, clinical practice, technology and other changes in the dynamic healthcare environment. It's an indispensable tool for students, educators and advanced practice nurses caring for high acuity or critically ill patients and their families. Access two publication formats (print and downloadable PDF) to meet your needs. Coming soon in Kindle format!

Dare To

From November's AACN Bold Voices
"Dare to Explore Possibilities"— Kathryn Roberts, AACN President 2012-2013