External urinary catheter devices: A multisite project involving point prevalence.

External urinary catheter devices used in hospitals can offer an alternative to indwelling urinary catheters. Prevalence and patient outcomes are not well understood. This multisite project involved point prevalence of device use in patients with labia on acute care units. All patients on included units with corresponding anatomy were observed for presence of device in addition to review of indication of use and chart audit. Device use was 28.8 %. Immobility was the leading indication, and most patients had severe dysfunction as to mobility. For most patients, level of mobility remained the same from admission to discharge. Many patients were either potentially physically able to mobilize out of bed to urinate or were likely continent. There was variation in suction setting and chart documentation. The project lacked a comparison group and collected limited patient information. Areas for future inquiry include prevalence and impact on mobility, continence, and skin integrity.

Adiposity and the Role of Neuroendocrine Hormones in Energy Balance.

Obesity is a worldwide health concern and, given the risk for developing associated co-morbidities that increase mortality, obesity has health implications for individuals and populations. Obesity involves multifactorial regulatory mechanisms, and recognition of these mechanisms will enhance the care critical care nurses provide to their patients. This article reviews the general physiological mechanisms of energy storage and the regulation of adiposity related to key neuroendocrine hormones. The authors also highlight the implications for nursing care for critically ill patients suffering from obesity.