Depression among trauma patients.

Background: Depression has been studied in many patient populations and has been found to significantly impact the course of illness, recovery, and outcome.

Objectives: Depression among the trauma patient population is under-recognized by health practitioners and precludes patient participation with rehabilitation-related activities, which ultimately leads to delayed recovery from traumatic injuries.

Methods: This descriptive study evaluated in-hospital depression in patients admitted to trauma services in an urban level II trauma center by using a depression scale and chart review.

Ileus development in the trauma/surgical intensive care unit: a process improvement evaluation.

Ileus development has been associated with a wide range of complications among hospitalized patients, ranging from increased patient pain and discomfort to malnutrition, aspiration, delayed rehabilitation, and sepsis. This article examines factors that appeared to correlate with an increase in ileus development among patients in a trauma/surgical intensive care unit, with the goal of preventing the condition through nursing practice changes.

Impact of coping skills intervention with family caregivers of hospice patients with cancer: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Family caregivers for cancer patients experience high levels of stress and burden and diminished quality of life (QOL). Interventions to improve coping skills of caregivers have been shown to be effective with other populations, but their impact has not been assessed in the difficult context of hospice care. The purpose of this study was to determine whether hospice plus a coping skill training intervention improved family caregivers' QOL, burden, coping, and mastery, compared with hospice plus emotional support, and usual hospice care.

Insulin infusion protocol for critical care units.

Purpose: An insulin infusion protocol for critical care units is described.

Summary: Evidence that aggressive glycemic control improves outcomes led physicians, nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists at a trauma center to develop an insulin infusion protocol. Before the protocol, elevated blood glucose concentrations were often not treated until they reached 200 mg/dL or higher.

Training pain resource nurses: changes in their knowledge and attitudes.

Purpose/objectives: To determine the changes in knowledge and attitudes of pain resource nurses (PRNs) as a result of an intensive pain management course.

Design: Pre- and post-test design.

Setting: A Veterans Administration hospital in the southeastern United States.

Validating the brief pain inventory for use with surgical patients with cancer.

Purpose/objectives: To examine the psychometric characteristics of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) for surgical patients with cancer and to compare the validity and reliability results between surgical and medical patients with cancer.

Design: Descriptive and correlational.

Setting: Inpatient units in two veterans hospitals.