AJCC
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

American Journal of Critical Care. 2005;14: 481-492
Copyright © 2005 by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Respond to This Article
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Right arrow Take the CE Test
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Heath, J.
Right arrow Articles by Crowell, N. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Heath, J.
Right arrow Articles by Crowell, N. A.

CE Online and Journal Club Feature

Critical Care Providers’ Perceptions of the Use of Vasopressin in Cardiac Arrest

By Janie Heath, PhD, APRN-BC, ANP, ACNP, Dave Hanson, RN, MSN, CCRN, Rebecca Long, RN, MS, CCRN, CMSRN and Nancy A. Crowell, MA. From Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Program (JH) and School of Nursing and Health Studies (JH, NAC), Georgetown University, Washington, DC, Cardiovascular Surgery Critical Care, Clarian Health Partners, Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, Ind (DH), and Veterans Affairs Healthcare System and San Diego State University, School of Nursing, San Diego, Calif (RL).

• Background Although published algorithms and guidelines list epinephrine and vasopressin as either/or choices for treatment of ventricular fibrillation and/or pulseless ventricular tachycardia, little is known about how critical care providers respond to this recommendation.

• Objectives To assess the use of vasopressin as a first-line drug of choice for ventricular fibrillation and/or pulseless ventricular tachycardia and describe factors that may influence decision making for using vasopressin.

• Methods A convenience sample from 4 academic medical centers in the United States was recruited to complete a 20-item survey on demographic factors such as year of last Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) provider course, specialty certification, predominant practice responsibility, and beliefs related to the use of vasopressin for cardiac arrest. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and logistic regression were used to analyze the data.

• Results A total of 214 critical care providers (80% registered nurses) completed the survey. Year of last ACLS course (r = –0.188, P = .006) was a significant demographic factor, and behavioral beliefs (attitude about using vasopressin) had the strongest relationship (r = 0.687, P < .001) and were the best predictor for intentions to use or recommend the use of vasopressin (beta=0.589, P<.001).

• Conclusions Despite the recommendation for vasopressin as an agent equivalent to epinephrine for treatment of ventricular fibrillation and/or pulseless ventricular tachycardia, 63% of respondents used epinephrine as a first-line drug of choice. More research is needed to address the classification system for interpreting the quality of evidence that may influence practice.

 

Journal Club Article Discussion Points






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2005 by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.