Recovery from coronary artery bypass grafting at home: is your nursing practice current?

Atuação do enfermeiro na atenção domiciliar: uma revisão integrativa da literatura

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar a produção científica acerca da atuação do enfermeiro na atenção domiciliar em saúde. Método: realizou-se uma revisão integrativa da literatura por meio de consulta às bases de dados LILACS, BDENF, IBECS e MEDLINE. Foram incluídos estudos em espanhol, inglês e português, não delimitando data de publicação. Resultados: analisados 48 artigos, identificou-se que a atuação do enfermeiro na atenção domiciliar possui complexidade e diversidade de ações com uso de tecnologias leves, leve-duras especialmente, e duras. Destaca-se que desafios relacionados ao processo formativo para a atenção domiciliar estão relatados na literatura. O enfermeiro utiliza conhecimento experiencial e recomendações científicas aliados à reflexão na prática. Conclusão: a atuação do enfermeiro no espaço domiciliar é fundamental e ampla. As ações relacionais e educacionais se destacam, sendo necessárias inclusive nos cuidados técnicos, predominando a necessidade de formação para a atenção domiciliar.

Educational Intervention Reduces Complications and Rehospitalizations After Heart Surgery

The effectiveness of in-hospital self-care patient education, delivered to patients following heart surgery, is questionable, as evidence indicates individuals are not able to absorb and/or retain information at this time. In the absence of adequate instruction, individuals will not have the relevant information to engage in specific self-care behaviors, resulting in the onset of complications and/or hospital readmissions. The purpose of this pilot study was to collect preliminary evidence to demonstrate the impact of an individualized education intervention given above and beyond usual care, delivered, at two points in time, following hospital discharge. A randomized controlled trial was used in which 34 patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Chi-square analyses to examine differences between groups on complications and hospital readmission rates were conducted. Findings point to the impact of the intervention in reducing the number of hospital readmissions and complications at 3 months following hospital discharge.

Symptom management strategies used by elderly patients after coronary artery bypass surgery

The purpose of this secondary analysis was to describe symptom management strategies used by elderly patients (n = 236) 3 and 6 weeks after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS). Three weeks after surgery, the most frequently used strategies were rest to manage shortness of breath (53%) and fatigue (53%), medications for incision pain (24%), and repositioning for swelling (35%) and sleep disturbance (18%). Overall, fewer patients experiencing sleep disturbances (39%), incision pain (39%), swelling (46%), and appetite problems (17%) reported using a strategy to manage their symptom. Nurses must assist patients in symptom identification and problem solving to accomplish effective symptom management.

The ten commandments of caring for patients after open heart surgery

Ten major issues must be addressed when providing home care services for patients recovering from open heart surgery. Filled with tips for patients and nurses, the "10 Commandments" present a creative way for nurses to teach patients as well as use this framework in individual care plans and agency clinical paths.