Emotional Intelligence in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurses: Decreasing Moral Distress in End-of-Life Care and Laying a Foundation for Improved Outcomes: An Integrative Review.

End-of-life care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is one of the most challenging practices for nurses. Negative emotions associated with moral distress often cause care to be incomplete or nurse disengagement. Emotional intelligence in nurses holds potential to address this issue, while improving patient outcomes. The purpose of this study was to critically appraise the evidence about emotional intelligence in nursing and to explore the relationship between emotional intelligence, moral distress in NICU nurses, end-of-life care, and other priority nurse and patient outcomes. A PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses)-structured integrative review was conducted, and CINAHL, Ovid, PubMed, and other databases were searched. Twelve studies were identified as relevant to this review after exclusion criteria were applied. Evidence supports the efficacy of emotional intelligence in bedside nurses as a method of improving key nurse and patient outcomes. Additionally, research suggests that emotional intelligence can be improved by training interventions. Clinical educators should integrate emotional intelligence concepts and strategies into staff training. Further research is recommended to validate previous findings in the NICU setting. Exploration of the relationship between emotional intelligence and moral distress in NICU nurses would provide a foundation for experimental designs to evaluate the effectiveness of emotional intelligence training interventions.

Evaluación y abordaje del estreñimiento en el paciente crítico / Evaluation and handling of constipation in critical patients

Objetivo: Valorar la eficacia de los cuidados enfermeros frente al estreñimiento e identificar, analizar y evaluar sus causas y consecuencias. Metodología: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y prospectivo, en UCI polivalentes de un hospital de tercer nivel (2013-2015). Criterios de inclusión: >18 años, estancia >7 días, con ventilación mecánica, portadores de sonda nasogástrica y nutrición enteral o mixta. Se excluyeron pacientes con enfermedad digestiva, encefalopáticos y con yeyunostomía/ileostomía. Las variables estudiadas (edad, sexo, peso, talla, enfermedad, tratamiento médico, tipo de nutrición y volumen, características deposicionales, cantidad y frecuencia, medidas correctoras y complicaciones) se recogieron mediante parrilla ad hoc. Dispone de autorización CEIC. Resultados: Se analizaron 139 pacientes con edad media de 62 años y estancia media de 11 días; un 63% padecieron estreñimiento. Opiáceos y antiácidos fueron los fármacos más administrados (99%), aunque los relajantes musculares, suplementos de hierro y/o calcio y antihipertensivos fueron los que dieron más estreñimiento (77, 75 y 70%). La dieta sin fibra fue la más utilizada (60% estreñidos), seguida de dieta con fibra (51% estreñidos) y la combinación de ambas (85% estreñidos) Un 56% usó laxantes como medida correctora, siendo el hidróxido de magnesio el más utilizado; un 54% las iniciaron el primer día. La retención gástrica fue la complicación más relevante (49%). Conclusión: El estreñimiento es un problema real multifactorial. Recomendamos: · Intensificar la vigilancia en pacientes con fármacos que favorecen el estreñimiento. · Utilizar dietas con fibra desde el inicio. ·Aplicar de forma precoz y combinada procinéticos y laxantes. Creemos necesario crear un protocolo para la profilaxis y manejo del estreñimiento (AU)

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of nursing care against constipation and to identify, analyze and evaluate causes and consequences. Methodology: Observational, descriptive and prospective study in polyvalent ICU tertiary hospital (2013-2015). Inclusion criteria: >18 years, stay >7 days, connected to respiratory support, with nasogastric tube and enteral or mixed nutrition. Patients with gastrointestinal pathology, encephalopathic and jejunostomy/ileostomy were excluded. The studied variables (age, sex, weight, height, pathology, medical treatment, nutrition and volume type, depositional characteristics, quantity and frequency, corrective measures and complications) were collected by ad hoc grill. It is authorized by the CEIC. Results: 139 patients with a mean age of 62 years and average stay of 11 days were analyzed; 63% suffered from constipation. Opiates and antacid were the drugs administered most frequently (99%), even though patients who took muscle relaxants, iron supplements and/or calcium and anti-hypertensive were the ones who suffered most from constipation (77%; 75%; 70%) The fiber free diet was the most widely used (60% constipated), followed by dietary fiber (51% constipated), and the combination of both (85% constipated). 56% used laxatives as a corrective measure, Magnesium Hydroxide being the most widely used; 54% began the first day. Gastric retention was the most relevant complication (49%). Conclusion: Constipation is a real multifactorial problem. We recommend: ·Intensified surveillance in patients with drugs that promote constipation. ·Use high-fiber diets from the outset. ·Apply laxatives and prokinetics early and in combination. We need to create a protocol for prophylaxis and management of constipation (AU)

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: an introduction.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has a rich and diverse history, both in the United States and around the world. From its early uses in war to the building of bridges, and through many introductions to innovations in the medical community, it has been debated and modified until its ultimate acceptance in multiple areas of patient care. Numerous areas of patient care use hyperbaric therapy, from wound care to military applications, in both single monoplace chambers and multipatient settings in larger chambers. This article provides an overview on the history, trial and error, and modern development of hyperbaric oxygen in clinical care therapies in 21st century medicine and nursing.