The Effect of Healing Touch on Critical Care Patients' Vital Signs: A Pilot Study.

To determine the impact of Healing Touch on vital signs, adult intensive care unit patients were recruited from multiple hospital sites. Both pain and agitation improved and there was a significant change in hemodynamics that reflected a calming effect. Healing Touch may be considered a respected addition to symptom management.

Effects of Aromatherapy on Pain and Anxiety Scores in Adult Patients Admitted to a Community Hospital on the Medical Unit or Telemetry Unit: A Pilot Study.

The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of aromatherapy intervention on pain and anxiety. The hypothesis was that the use of aromatherapy will improve pain and anxiety scores when assessed within 30 to 60 minutes of administration. The study design was a prospective comparison of aromatherapy using a pre-/postdesign study.

Who is dying in our critical care units? A single center's experience.

Are deaths that occur in critical care expected or unexpected? The objective was to illustrate the incidence of deaths in adult critical care units. We also wanted to discover if our patient population fit the norm of those who die in these units in the United States. Are the patients with many comorbid conditions? Could they benefit from advance care planning? A prospective chart review was completed on all deaths that occurred in our 5 critical care units.