Postoperative nausea and vomiting in adults: implications for critical care.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting is a dreaded, uncomfortable, and unpleasant patient experience that is also a factor contributing to adverse outcomes in postoperative recovery. The key to management of this concern is to identify high-risk patients and to develop a systematic method of assessment, intervention, and evaluation within the perianesthesia care continuum. This discussion outlines the wide range of pharmacological and alternative therapies that are available in clinical practice with a case study to illustrate incorporation of these interventions in critically ill patients.

Synergy and competence: tools of the trade.

Staff competence is important to assure optimal patient outcomes and is mandated by accreditation agencies. A tool to standardize and facilitate the competency validation process was developed and approved by an interdisciplinary team. The Synergy Model was used as the framework for tool development.

Caring for patients with traumatic injuries of the thoracic aorta.

Trauma is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States, with blunt traumatic injuries of the thoracic aorta continuing to occur despite the increased use of seatbelts and airbags. Emerging from crash analysis are effective interventions and provides increased awareness of the occult nature of these types of injuries. This article describes those interventions that healthcare providers must embed throughout the continuum of care for patients experiencing thoracic aortic injuries.

Break through language barriers.

Using specific phrases in Spanish to assess acute pain in non-English speaking Hispanic patients helps provide timely pain assessment and management.

Stride right.

Researchers set out to determine which of two methods for preventing heel pressure ulcers yields more effective results.