High-permeability pulmonary edema: nursing assessment, diagnosis, and interventions

Article Abstract:

High-permeability pulmonary edema (HPPE), or adult respiratory distress syndrome, is an accumulation of fluid in the lungs caused by damage to the cell membrane between lung cells and blood vessel. The membrane usually regulates the flow of fluids and other substances between blood and the cells. The mortality for all patients with HPPE is high at 65 percent, and may be even higher in some patient subgroups. Critical care patients are at high risk for developing HPPE, and critical care nurses should be familiar with the syndrome so that proper treatment may result. The cardinal signs and symptoms and clinical data associated with HPPE are described. The organ complications which accompany HPPE are also described, and proper therapy is discussed. Complications include imbalance between fluid intake and fluid loss, decreased output of blood volume by the heart (diminished pumping), decreased urinary volume, and poor lung function resulting in decreased levels of oxygen in the blood or reduced carbon dioxide removal. Patient considerations that should be integrated into nursing treatment plans include the need for more calories in the diet or intravenous feeding, possible impaired communication due to an artificial airway, intolerance of activity, altered mental state, pain, and stress on family members. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Evaluation, Acute respiratory distress syndrome, Adult respiratory distress syndrome

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Nursing versus medical research

Article Abstract:

Nursing and medical research both use the scientific method in their research methodologies, but they differ in purpose and orientation. A scientific body of knowledge and the development and testing of theories are the bases for any discipline. Nursing and medical research differ in their body of knowledge and how it is used. Research is not nursing research simply because it is done by a nurse. The research is defined by the knowledge it hopes to obtain and the way it is conducted. Nurses can do medical research or research in any other fields in which they are trained and it is not nursing research. Nursing research is often more qualitative than medical research. It often borrows knowledge from many other disciplines. Nursing research is geared toward a more holistic view of the patient and his or her needs, physical and mental, while medical research confines itself to physiologic causes and treatments for disease. The holistic approach is more difficult and uncertainties are greater. Both areas of research provide valuable information needed for patient care. Communication between areas of research is necessary for dealing with the complexity of delivering health care. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Clinical medicine, Nursing, Medical protocols, editorial

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Family member interventions: research challenges

Article Abstract:

Nursing research has consistently reported that the families of critically ill patients have special needs for assurance, closeness to the patient, status information and support. Most of the research in this area has involved descriptive studies. It is now time to address the need for interventions for the families of critically ill patients using scientific methods. To conduct such studies, researchers must resolve several concerns. Specifically, they must: (1)articulate theories to support the focus of their research; (2) describe and choose family units appropriate for testing the theoretical basis of the research; (3) design and test family intervention programs with interdisciplinary collaboration; and (4) develop and test explicit nursing interventions. The details of these four requirements are described. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Family, Critically ill, Family nursing

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