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Biomedical subjects

T Ahrens

Publications and source records attributed to T Ahrens.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Nurse clinician model of managed care.

Many different models of delivering nursing care have been proposed, each with specific advantages and disadvantages. One such model, the nurse clinician model, uses the strengths of advanced clinical practice as the cornerstone for improving quality in patient care. The increase in quality simultaneously produces an efficient and cost-effective system, as indicated by the results of a multiyear study at our institution. While other effective models exist, those that emphasize advanced clinical practice, such as the nurse clinician model, are most likely to achieve improved patient outcomes and conserve resource expenditures.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Pulmonary critical care. Airway pressure measurement as an aid to identify end-expiration in hemodynamic waveform analysis.

The value of airway pressure monitoring is the improved clarity in identifying end-expiration. Short of monitoring intrapleural pressures, airway pressure monitoring has the potential to give the most accurate method for identifying the correct respiratory point to read hemodynamic values. Airway pressure monitoring can improve the reliability of hemodynamic waveform analysis between nurses and reduce some of the subjectivity associated with hemodynamic waveform analysis.

Critical Care↗
PubMed1991

Prevalence of tardive dyskinesia among three ethnic groups of chronic psychiatric patients.

The relationship between prevalence of tardive dyskinesia and ethnicity (black, white, or Hispanic) was examined in a group of 491 chronic psychiatric patients at a large state psychiatric hospital in California. Overall, the prevalence of tardive dyskinesia was 17.7 percent. No significant differences in the prevalence of tardive dyskinesia or in neuroleptic dosage levels were found among the three groups. A relationship was found between lower prevalence of tardive dyskinesia and higher current neuroleptic dosage, suggesting that higher dosage masks symptoms of tardive dyskinesia.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Auto-PEEP: an impediment to weaning in the chronically ventilated patient.

Auto-positive end expiratory pressure (auto-PEEP) is a physiologic event that is a recently recognized phenomenon common to mechanically ventilated patients. Auto-PEEP occurs when forces exist that limit expiration and the subsequent elimination of positive pressure from the lungs. If positive pressure is retained, a potential reduction in cardiac output and increase in complications from barotrauma arise. Because of possible physiologic problems associated with it, auto-PEEP can potentially interfere with weaning from mechanical ventilation. Nursing measures that can reduce the effect of auto-PEEP during weaning are centered on improving the inspiratory/expiratory flow patterns. These efforts include manipulating mechanical ventilator settings and reducing causes of increased respiratory rates (e.g., pain and anxiety). Since auto-PEEP was only recently identified as a potential impediment to weaning from mechanical ventilation, the nurse must be aware of the need to assess for the presence of auto-PEEP in these patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Blood gas assessment of intrapulmonary shunting and deadspace.

Interpretation of blood gases is one of the most common clinical responsibilities of critical care nurses. Correct interpretation of blood gases is dependent on understanding the reasons for the gases to change. The two changes in pulmonary function that are most likely to affect blood gases are intrapulmonary shunting and deadspace alterations. The application of the principles of intrapulmonary shunting and deadspace to blood gas interpretation expands the ability to identify changes in pulmonary dysfunction. With the identification of changes in lung function, treatment modalities can be better assessed for effectiveness.

Blood Gas Analysis↗
PubMed1989

Extravascular lung water. Concepts in clinical application.

EVLW holds the potential to serve as a better clinical end point to clinical decision than current cardiopulmonary parameters. Evidence is present that the use of EVLW data may improve patient outcome, particularly in the population of high EVLW and low PCWP. The key area of clinical value with EVLW is the importance of understanding that EVLW may not be readily predicted by current methods. Nursing assessment needs to incorporate the limitations of current methods to estimate EVLW. Use of EVLW values in clinical settings is dependent on improved technological devices that would allow for easier measurement. The current methods consume substantial nursing time to perform, limiting practicality in clinical settings. The ideal device will not only be easy to use but will be noninvasive. This device has not yet been developed.

Cardiac Output↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Differences in pain perception associated with intravenous catheter insertion.

Seven intravenous catheter brands were compared for differences in pain perception associated with catheter insertion. A sample population included 210 healthy volunteers. Three key elements emerged from data analysis: 1) first insertions were viewed as less painful than second insertions; 2) thin-walled catheters were viewed as less painful than thick-walled catheters; 3) differences between brands exist. Catheters viewed as more painful were Travenol (Quik-Cath, Travenol Laboratories, Inc., Deerfield, Illinois) and Terumo (Surflo, Terumo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). No catheter was viewed as less painful, but Insyte (Deseret Medical, Inc., Sandy, Utah) did approach statistical significance.

Adolescent↗