Editorials:

Christopher W. Bryan-Brown and Kathleen Dracup

Looking for a Few Just Men
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(3): 178-180. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Letters to the Editor:

Mary Wolf and Patricia Benner

LETTER TO THE EDITORS
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(3): 182. [Full Text] [PDF]  

AACN 2005 Distinguished Research Lecture:

Sandra B. Dunbar

Psychosocial Issues of Patients With Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(3): 184. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Guest Editorials:

Kathleen M. McCauley

A Message From the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(3): 186. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Critical Care Environment:

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses

AACN Standards for Establishing and Sustaining Healthy Work Environments: A Journey to Excellence
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses recognizes the inextricable links among quality of the work environment, excellent nursing practice, and patient care outcomes. In this article, the 6 standards for establishing and sustaining healthy work environments are discussed. With these standards, AACN contributes to the implementation of elements in a healthy work environment articulated in 2004 by the 70-member Nursing Organizations Alliance.
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(3): 187-197. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Families in Critical Care:

Stephen M. Auerbach, Donald J. Kiesler, Jennifer Wartella, Sarah Rausch, Kevin R. Ward, and Rao Ivatury

Optimism, Satisfaction With Needs Met, Interpersonal Perceptions of the Healthcare Team, and Emotional Distress in Patients’ Family Members During Critical Care Hospitalization
Families of critical care patients experience high levels of emotional distress. Access to information about patients' medical conditions and quality relationships with healthcare staff are high-priority needs for these families. The authors assessed satisfaction with needs met, signs and symptoms of acute stress disorder, interpersonal perception of healthcare staff, level of optimism, and the relationships among these variables in patients' family members.
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(3): 202-210. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]  

Advanced Nursing Practice in Critical Care:

Ruth M. Kleinpell

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practice: Results of a 5-Year Longitudinal Study
Beginning in 1996, a series of surveys were conducted of nurse practitioners seeking certification as ACNPs. What started as an attempt to gather information on the role of ACNPs evolved into a national 5-year longitudinal survey of ACNP practice. The cumulative results of the project are reported, and how the role of the ACNP was established in advanced practice nursing is discussed.
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(3): 211-219. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]  

Colleen M. O’Leary-Kelley, Kathleen A. Puntillo, Juliana Barr, Nancy Stotts, and Marilyn K. Douglas

Nutritional Adequacy in Patients Receiving Mechanical Ventilation Who Are Fed Enterally
Inadequate nutritional intake in critically ill patients can lead to complications resulting in increased mortality and healthcare costs. These assessed the adequacy of enteral intake in ICU patients receiving mechanical ventilation once the prescribed tube feeding rate had been achieved. The authors also determined the factors affecting the delivery of enteral feedings in these patients.
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(3): 222-231. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]  

Critical Care Monitoring:

Kathleen Schell, Elisabeth Bradley, Linda Bucher, Maureen Seckel, Denise Lyons, Sandra Wakai, Deborah Bartell, Elizabeth Carson, Melanie Chichester, Teresa Foraker, and Kathleen Simpson

Clinical Comparison of Automatic, Noninvasive Measurements of Blood Pressure in the Forearm and Upper Arm
When the upper arm (area from shoulder to elbow) is inaccessible and/or a standard-sized blood pressure cuff does not fit, some healthcare workers use the forearm to measure blood pressure. In this descriptive, correlational comparison study, conducted in the emergency department of a 1071-bed teaching hospital, the authors compared automatic noninvasive measurements of blood pressure in the upper arm and forearm.
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(3): 232-241. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Current Controversies in Critical Care:

Patricia Benner

Extending the Dialogue About Classification Systems and the Work of Professional Nurses
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(3): 242-272. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Cardiology Casebook:

Laurie G. Futterman and Louis Lemberg

Apo A-I Milano
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(3): 244-247. [Full Text] [PDF]  

ECG Puzzler:

Mary G. Adams and Michele M. Pelter

Relative Refractory Period
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(3): 249-250. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Education Directory:

Education Directory
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(3): 271. [Full Text] [PDF]  

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