Implementing Prone Positioning for COVID-19 Patients Outside the Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Proning intubated intensive care unit patients for the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome is an accepted standard of practice. We examined the nursing climate in 4 units and its impact on implementing a novel self-proning protocol to treat COVID-19 patients outside the intensive care unit. LOCAL PROBLEM: Nursing units previously designated for medical/surgical populations had to adjust quickly to provide evidence-based care for COVID-19 patients attempting self-proning. METHODS: Nurses from 4 nursing units were surveyed about the implementation process on the self-proning protocol. Their perception of unit implementation was assessed via the Implementation Climate Scale. INTERVENTIONS: A new self-proning nursing protocol was implemented outside the intensive care unit. RESULTS: Consistent education on the protocol, belief in the effectiveness of the intervention, and a strong unit-based climate of evidence-based practice contributed to greater implementation of the protocol. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a new nursing protocol is possible with strong unit-based support, even during a pandemic.

Patient-reported extremity symptoms after robot-assisted laparoscopic cystectomy.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe patient-reported extremity symptoms after robot-assisted laparoscopic cystectomy in patients with bladder cancer. BACKGROUND: Preventive activities for remaining patient safety due to correct positioning play an important part in perioperative nursing care.Extremity injuries are well-known after prolonged surgery, especially in robot-assisted urologic surgery in the steep Trendelenburg position. The risk of injury increases due to patient-related and operative risk factors. METHODS: A quantitative prospective observational study was conducted. Patients were followed up with the QuickDASH (Disabilities in the Arm, Shoulder and Hand), Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) and a study-specific questionnaire 7-10 days and monthly, up to six months after surgery in patients with extremity symptoms. The study adheres to STROBE (strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology) guidelines, see Supporting information File S1. RESULTS: Out of the 94 included participants, 46.8% (n = 44) experienced extremity symptoms 7-10 days after surgery. Pain, numbness and weakness were the most frequent symptoms. There was a discrepancy between the patients reported symptoms and the documentation in the patient records. Only 13.6% (n = 3) of the reported pain was documented, respectively 27.5% (n = 11) of other symptoms. CONCLUSION: A large proportion of the patients report postoperative extremity symptoms after robot-assisted laparoscopic cystectomy. Prevention of complications in the perioperative setting, are together with follow-ups, important nursing activities for maintaining patient safety and may both prevent and detect postoperative extremity symptoms and injuries. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study reveals the need of accurate documentation regarding extremity symptoms in digital patient records, as well as continuous follow-ups during the hospital stay and after hospital discharge to enable detection of treatable extremity injuries. The result of this study also indicates the importance of nursing activities such as evidence-based positioning guidelines in the operating theatre for optimal positioning.

Targeted educational program improves infant positioning practice in the NICU.

QUALITY PROBLEM OR ISSUE: Infant positioning may interfere with neuromotor development. Bedside education and Infant Positioning Assessment Tool (IPAT) improve nurses' and doctors' proficiency in applying proper infant positioning. INITIAL ASSESSMENT: Nursing compliance with proper positioning is suboptimal due to many factors. One factor was the inadequate knowledge and practice of infant positioning, since the baseline mean IPAT score was 3.4. CHOICE OF SOLUTION: Three experienced neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses were chosen as position champions to help other NICU nurses apply proper positioning and monitor IPAT scores. Education and hands-on demonstration sessions were developed based on the observed baseline practice. IMPLEMENTATION: Periodic education with hands-on demonstration was given to NICU nurses and residents. Infants' positions were objectively scored using IPAT. Two Plan, Do, Study and Act cycles were completed and adjustments were made based on each cycle's achieved results. EVALUATION: Mean IPAT scores increased from 3.4 at baseline and 6.3 in the second cycle to 7.3 in the third cycle of intervention. LESSONS LEARNED: A systematic approach targeting infants' positioning succeeded in improving nurses' and residents' clinical performance. Not reaching significant change until after 18 months highlights the difficulty and complexity in changing behaviors.

The important role of positioning in nasogastric tube insertion in unconscious patients: A prospective, randomised, double-blind study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether positioning the body in a lateral decubitus position will facilitate nasogastric tube insertion in unconscious patients. BACKGROUND: Inserting a nasogastric tube into unconscious patients can be challenging because these patients cannot cooperate with the operator. The piriform sinus and arytenoid cartilage are the most commonly reported impaction sites. However, we found that the first impaction site was the backward displaced tongue when inserting a nasogastric tube in unconscious patients who often exhibited glossoptosis. Performing an intubation in the lateral decubitus position could make this procedure easy. DESIGN: This prospective, double-blind, parallel, randomised controlled trial was conducted in Hengshui City, Hebei Province, China. METHODS: A total of 110 cases of unconscious patients were enrolled. The patients were randomly assigned to a conventional group (group C) or a lateral decubitus position group (group L). In group C, the nasogastric tube was inserted while the patients were in a supine position using the conventional technique, and in group L, the tube was inserted in a lateral decubitus position or further tilting the body to a prone decubitus position 20-30°. We discussed reasonable intubation methods in unconscious patients by comparing the success rate on first insertion, the overall success rate, the intubation time and the complication rates between the two groups. RESULTS: Group L had a higher success rate on first insertion and overall success rate than group C (p < .05). The intubation time in group L was shorter than that in group C (p < .001), and the complication rate in group L was lower than that in group C (p < .05). The differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The backward displaced tongue blocks the pharyngeal passage. Nasogastric tube insertions in the lateral decubitus position are recommended in unconscious patients because of the higher success rate, reduced intubation time and lower complication rate. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study provides an effective method for nasogastric tube insertions in unconscious patients.

Structured Educational Intervention Leads to Better Infant Positioning in the NICU.

PURPOSE: The purpose is to test the effectiveness of an educational intervention in improving infant positioning because positioning may interfere with neuromotor development. METHODS: A quality improvement (QI) project was initiated to increase knowledge and improve the compliance of nurses and physicians in infant positioning using the Infant Positioning Assessment Tool (IPAT). The project was part of Neonatal Individualized Developmental Care Assessment Program (NIDCAP) training. It included informal discussion and practice about infant positions. MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLES: Staff knowledge, IPAT score. RESULTS: Fifty-two pediatric residents and 39 NICU nurses participated in this project. The mean knowledge assessment test score improved significantly for both nurses (p < .0001) and residents (p < .0001) postintervention; IPAT scores increased significantly from 3.4 (±2. 5) to 8.1 (±2.7) (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Nurses' education with hands-on practice improved infant positioning in the NICU; this may lead to fewer positional deformities and possibly an improved developmental outcome.

Staff's perceptions of a pressure mapping system to prevent pressure injuries in a hospital ward: A qualitative study.

AIM: To describe staff's perceptions of a continuous pressure mapping system to prevent pressure injury in a hospital ward. BACKGROUND: Pressure injury development is still a problem in hospitals. It is important to understand how new information and communication technologies can facilitate pressure injury prevention. METHOD: A descriptive design with qualitative focus group interviews was used. RESULTS: Five categories were identified: "Need of information, training and coaching over a long period of time," "Pressure mapping - a useful tool in the prevention of pressure injury in high risk patients," "Easy to understand and use, but some practical issues were annoying," "New way of working and thinking," and "Future possibilities with the pressure mapping system." CONCLUSION: The pressure mapping system was an eye-opener for the importance of pressure injury prevention. Staff appreciated the real-time feedback on pressure points, which alerted them to the time for repositioning, facilitated repositioning and provided feedback on the repositioning performed. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: A continuous pressure mapping system can be used as a catalyst, increasing staff's competence, focus and awareness of prevention. For successful implementation, the nurse managers should have a shared agenda with the clinical nurse leaders, supporting the sustaining and spread of the innovation.

Stopping the Slide: How Hospital Bed Design Can Minimize Active and Passive Patient Migration.

Patient migration, or the amount of movement toward the foot of the bed, has been shown to significantly vary because of the mechanical design differences in hospital beds. Previously, the amount of migration was measured immediately following head-of-bed articulation in healthy subjects. This study not only evaluates how much migration occurs immediately after head-of-bed articulation but also measures additional migration during a standard 2-hour repositioning period in subjects with limited mobility.

Noninvasive Ventilation in Premature Neonates.

BACKGROUND: The use of noninvasive ventilation is a constantly evolving treatment option for respiratory disease in the premature infant. The goals of these noninvasive ventilation techniques are to improve gas exchange in the premature infant's lungs and to minimize the need for intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation. PURPOSE: The goals of this article are to consider various uses of nasal interfaces, discuss skin care and developmental positioning concerns faced by the bedside nurse, and discuss the medical management aimed to reduce morbidity and mortality. This article explores the nursing role, the advances in medical strategies for noninvasive ventilation, and the team approach to noninvasive ventilation use in this population. SEARCH STRATEGY: Search strategy included a literature review on medical databases, such as EBSCOhost, CINAHL, PubMed, and NeoReviews. FINDINGS: Innovative products, nursing research on developmental positioning and skin care, and advanced medical management have led to better and safer outcomes for premature infants requiring noninvasive ventilation. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The medical focus of avoiding long-term mechanical ventilation would not be possible without the technology to provide noninvasive ventilation to these premature infants and the watchful eye of the nurse in terms of careful positioning, preventing skin breakdown and facial scarring, and a proper seal to maximize ventilation accuracy. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH: This article encourages nursing-based research to quantify some of the knowledge about skin care and positioning as well as research into most appropriate uses for noninvasive ventilation devices.

An evaluation of a novel alternating mattress and cushion technology.

Pressure ulcer prevention and management remain a challenge across all health-care settings, and the incidence and prevalence of pressure ulcers in nursing homes and residential homes continues to remain unknown. The use of suitable support surfaces has been found to be beneficial in the prevention and management of pressure ulcers. Carrying out a holistic assessment of the patient and recording the patient's at-risk score would help the clinician to determine the most suitable pressure-relieving surface for the patient. The clinician's clinical experience and judgment are also important. The Domus Auto (by APEX) mattress system and Dynamic Seat Cushion (by APEX) are effective dynamic, support surfaces in the prevention and management of pressure ulceration. They meet the recommendations by both national and international guidelines; they also partly fulfil the SSKIN bundle. From a four-week evaluation carried out in a nursing home, it has been demonstrated that, together with regular assessments and repositioning of the patients, these devices are useful tools in preventing patients' risk of tissue damage and improving the patients' quality of life.

Clinical profile, nursing diagnoses and nursing care for postoperative bariatric surgery patients. / Perfil clínico, diagnósticos e cuidados de enfermagem para pacientes em pós-operatório de cirurgia bariátrica.

Objective To analyze the clinical profile, nursing diagnoses, and nursing care established for postoperative bariatric surgery patients. Method Cross-sectional study carried out in a hospital in southern Brazil with a sample of 143 patients. Data were collected retrospectively from electronic medical records between 2011 and 2012 and analyzed statistically. Results We found a predominance of adult female patients (84%) with class III obesity (59.4%) and hypertension (72%). Thirty-five nursing diagnoses were reported, among which the most frequent were: Acute Pain (99.3%), Risk for perioperative positioning injury (98.6%), and Impaired tissue integrity (93%). The most frequently prescribed nursing care were: to use protection mechanisms in the surgical patient positioning, to record pain as 5th vital sign, and to take vital signs. There was an association between age and comorbidities. Conclusion The nursing diagnoses supported the nursing care prescription, which enables the qualification of nursing assistance.

[Improving the provision of nesting and positioning for premature infants by nurses in neonatal intensive care units].

BACKGROUND & PROBLEMS: Nesting and positioning is a common nursing skill used in the developmental care of premature infants. This skill maintains premature infants in a comfortable position, facilitates the monitoring of stable vital signs, and enables spontaneous motor activity for normal neuromuscular and skeletal joint function. PURPOSE: This project was designed to improve nursing staff cognition and skills regarding nesting and positioning for premature infants in the NICU. RESOLUTIONS: Strategies used in this project were: develop an infant position assessment tool; record a demonstration video about nesting and positioning skills to provide learning efficacy among the nursing staff; and modify an education program for new nurses. RESULTS: After implementation, nurse cognition regarding premature infant nesting and positioning increased from 58.3% to 92.3%. The rate of correct technique use similarly rose from 63.3% to 91.4%. CONCLUSIONS: This is a valid intervention for improving the correctness of nesting and positioning in nursing care. This project standardized education in terms of nesting and positioning practice goals and enhanced quality care for premature infants.

Preventing muscular contractures through routine stroke patient care.

The aim of this article is to elevate the standard of ward-based routine care by informing readers about the prevention and management of muscular contractures post-cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Musculoskeletal complications can develop at any time during the acute or latter stages of stroke care and rehabilitation; therefore, it is imperative that all nurses understand the importance of correct limb placement and some of the detrimental complications that can occur. By placing more onus on therapeutic positioning and earlier mobilisation, nurses, working alongside allied health professionals, can significantly improve morbidity-related outcomes.

Establishing a course to train ICU nurses on prone position mechanical ventilation: A Delphi study.

AIM: To develop a comprehensive training course for training ICU nurses in prone positioning. DESIGN: A mixed study combining semi-structured interviews and two rounds of Delphi surveys. METHODS: We constructed a questionnaire after collecting data through a literature review and semi-structured interviews. We used the Delphi expert correspondence method to conduct two rounds of research among 17 experts in the field of critical illness. Data collection took place between May and August 2022. RESULTS: The effective questionnaire recovery rate was 88.2%. The expert authority coefficient was 0.876; the Kendall coordination coefficient was 0.402; the average importance score for each index ranged from 4.00 to 4.93; and the coefficient of variation for each index ranged from 0.05 to 0.19. We established 13 second-level indicators and 41 third-level indicators on prone position ventilation training according to three aspects: training contents, training methods and training assessment. The training system of prone mechanical ventilation for ICU nurses established in this study will provide an effective framework for training and evaluating the practical ability of prone mechanical ventilation for ICU nurses.

Neonatal nurses' and therapists' perceptions of positioning for preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.

PURPOSE: Determine perceptions about positioning for preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NI CU). DESIGN: Twenty-item survey. SAMPLE: Neonatal nurses (n = 68) and speech, physical, and occupational therapists (n = 8). MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE: Perceptions about positioning were obtained, and differences in perceptions between nurses and therapists were explored. RESULTS: Ninety-nine percent of respondents agreed that positioning is important for the well-being of the infant. Sixty-two percent of nurses and 86 percent of therapists identified the Dandle ROO as the ideal method of neonatal positioning. Forty-four percent of nurses and 57 percent of therapists reported that the Dandle ROO is the easiest positioning method to use in the NICU. Some perceptions differed: Therapists were more likely to report that the SleepSack does not hold the infant in good alignment. Nurses were more likely to report that the infant does not sleep well in traditional positioning.

Positioning after feedings: what is the evidence to reduce feeding intolerances?

Nursing's goal is to be the least invasive as the patient's condition allows. As a NICU nurse, each feeding for our patients is a priority for them to grow and develop with the idea to speed discharge to home. When infants develop reflux or have increased gastric aspirates, we are concerned that their weight will taper and their length of stay will increase. Positioning provides nurses with a noninvasive option to care for these patients. The that the right-side position is best for infants to enhance digestion stems from theories of anatomy and physics. Research strengthens this supposition for those infants needing help with decreased gastric motility. Other research supports the left lateral and prone positions for those patients with GER. In practice, a patient does not necessarily have one or the other and in fact may have both GER and slowed gastric motility at any given time. The literature supports the right lateral position for enhancing gastric emptying or motility and left lateral position for GER in the uncomplicated patient with one gastrointestinal concern. The knowledge the research provides is encouraging to provide a solution, but it does not clarify the true issues of a complex patient who can have decreased gastric motility needing the right lateral position and also suffer from symptoms of GER requiring the left lateral position (see Table). For those more complicated infants, the solution might best be choosing the prone position. The prone position should not be forgotten as the findings of many studies, although not often the first choice (best results) showed it to be consistently the second best for digestive problems. In any case, the dominant positions appear to be the right or left lateral side with the prone position considered a reasonable compromise. Further research is needed to provide a clear choice for correct positioning in the NICU population. The reality for nurses is that neonatal patients are often fed every 3 hours and their lives depend on each feeding to provide nutrients for growth. It is ideal for these patients to receive every prescribed feeding and be comfortably placed in a variety of positions. Nurses' assumption that the right lateral position is best is considered, in most cases, to be a true statement for those infants with increased gastric aspirates. For those patients with GER, the left lateral position is more highly preferred. It is important for nurses to be aware of the literature but also guide their practice based on the patient assessment and presentation of symptoms. Future knowledge may provide nurses with the data needed to perfect positioning methods for infants with feeding intolerances.

The effect of continuous pressure monitoring on strategic shifting of medical inpatients at risk for PUs.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of continuous pressure imaging technology on strategic turning of patients by health professionals. METHOD: This pilot study of a newly-developed continuous pressure imaging technology (XSENSOR ForeSite PatientTurn System) involved two phases of videotaped observation of medical inpatients, with each patient serving as his/her own control: a control phase in which continuous pressure imaging was not available to health-care providers and an intervention phase where it was. The primary outcome was to determine whether access to the technology influenced the rate of patient turns/shifts by nursing staff. Secondary outcomes included a comparison of the rates of other care provider shifts, patient self-shifts, and family assisted shifts. Qualitative data regarding nurse and patient/family perspectives were also obtained. RESULTS: Complete control/intervention data were available for nine patients.The mean rate of two-person assisted turns was 0.274 +/- 0.087 turns per hour in the control phase versus 0.413 +/- 0.091 turns per hour in the intervention phase (p = 0.08). For the combined endpoint of two-person assisted turns or patient transfers off the bed into a wheelchair/chair, there was a statistically significant difference in the mean number of turns per hour: mean of 0.491 +/- 0.271 turns per hour for the intervention group versus 0.327 +/- 0.235 turns per hour for the control group (p = 0.04). Provider interviews confirmed that nurses used information from the technology to inform their patient shifting strategies and behaviours. CONCLUSION: This pilot study provides some initial data supporting the hypothesis that continuous pressure imaging technology could positively impact the frequency of patient turns by care providers, as well as provide impetus to inspect specific skin locations,thereby providing a potential targeted risk mitigation strategy for the development of pressure ulcers. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: Funding for the study was obtained from PreCarn Inc., an independent, nonprofit company supporting the pre-commercial development of new technologies, and from the Alberta Enterprise and Advanced Education (formally Alberta Advanced Education and Technology). The industry partner, XSENSOR, was involved in setup and maintenance of the technology, but was not involved in the evaluative research protocol. Specifically, XSENSOR personnel were not involved in the collection, coding, or analysis of outcome data, nor in the compilation and writing of this paper. None of the listed authors have any conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise, relating to the technology tested.

Prone positioning: is it safe and effective?

Prone positioning has been used as a treatment option for patients with acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) since the early 1970s. Prone position and extended prone position ventilation have been shown to increase end-expiratory lung volume, alveolar recruitment, and oxygenation in patients with severe hypoxemic and acute respiratory failure. Prone positioning is not a benign procedure, and there are potential risks (complications) that can occur to both the patient and the health care worker. Notable complications that can arise include: unplanned extubation, lines pulled, tubes kinked, and back and other injuries to personnel. Prone positioning is a viable, inexpensive therapy for the treatment of severe ARDS. This maneuver consistently improves systemic oxygenation in 70% to 80% of patients with ARDS. With the utilization of a standardized protocol and a trained and dedicated critical care staff, prone positioning can be performed safely.

Management of true shoulder dystocia at attended homebirth.

At attended homebirth, shoulder dystocia poses less of a challenge and has better outcomes compared to hospital birth. If you don't panic, but do call someone into the room to help you with suprapubic pressure if needed and run thru the maneuvers systematically, you will get the baby out by six minutes avoiding damaging long-term consequences. At hospital birth, it is estimated to take a minimum of two minutes to turn the woman onto all fours from the usual position in a hospital bed while connected to a monitor, IV and epidural. An epidural anesthetizes the woman making it impossible to push optimally. Epidural also anesthetizes the baby, making spontaneous breathing less likely and making resuscitation more challenging. Suprapubic pressure is difficult at the height of the hospital bed, so time is lost while the bed is lowered. Vacuum and forceps vaginal deliveries, which are not used at home-birth but accompany about 8% of hospital births, are independent risk factors for true shoulder dystocia.

Application of Precise Positioning for Sputum Expectoration in ICU Patients with Pulmonary Infection.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the application value of precise positioning for sputum expectoration in intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalized patients with pulmonary infection (PI). METHODS: A total of 183 patients with PI treated in the ICUs of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from June 2019 to June 2020 were divided into a control group (n = 91) and an observation group (n = 92), all of whom received conventional drug therapy. The control group was given routine nursing intervention, based on which, the observation group was supplemented with precise positioning for sputum expectoration. The 24-hour sputum volume, respiratory rate (RR), blood gas analysis indexes, inflammatory indicators, Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS), Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale score, and quality of life (36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, SF-36) were observed in both arms before and after intervention. The incidence of adverse reactions was counted. RESULTS: The observation group showed better mMRC scores than the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the sputum volume, RR, and CPIS score were lower, and the SF-36 score was higher in the observation group 7 days after intervention (P < 0.05). After intervention, the oxygen saturation (SaO2) and partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) were higher, while the carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and leukocyte count were lower in the observation group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two arms (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The application of precise positioning for sputum expectoration in nursing intervention of ICU patients with PI can alleviate the severity of PI and dyspnea, reduce inflammatory reaction, and improve the quality of life of patients.