ICU Rounding Culture: What Needs to Change and How We Can Help
One of the biggest barriers to improving ICU patient care is a lack of interdisciplinary collaboration, especially when it comes to ICU rounding. In theory, rounding should give clinicians the opportunity to review and discuss each patient’s care, and then come together to ensure that care is a reflection of best practices and the patient’s
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Unplanned Extubations: Dispelling the Fear and Understanding the Reality
When I think back to how I started my career as a nurse, it really does seem like a date with destiny. I could have gotten a job at any ICU, but for whatever reason, I landed my first nursing gig at a high acuity medical-surgical intensive care unit in Salt Lake City, Utah, which
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How Simulation Training Can Help to Improve ICU Patient Care
Despite many exciting advancements in technology and research, ICU sedation and mobility practices continue to be stuck in the past. A big part of this problem stems from ICU culture, which encourages clinicians to fear change and be resistant to new ideas and approaches. But regardless of these issues with ICU culture, the truth is,
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How Clinicians, Patients, and Families Can Benefit from Better Communication in the ICU
Back when I was studying to become a nurse, I had an experience in the ICU that changed me forever. As a starry-eyed 18-year-old nursing student, I was incredibly excited to finally be in the ICU, experiencing what I’d dreamed about for so many years. But when I got there and started to learn what
As far as the early mobility community is concerned, the benefits of early mobility in the intensive care unit are not up for debate. There are mountains of evidence to show these benefits and support the safety and efficacy of early mobility in the ICU, and this is something I’ve documented repeatedly. But unfortunately, ICUs
How the ABCDEF Bundle Can Improve the Quality of Death for ICU Patients
Over the years, I’ve witnessed first-hand how the ABCDEF Bundle’s evidence-based practices can reduce healthcare costs, while improving patient outcomes and working conditions in the ICU. But even though evidence shows that the ABCDEF Bundle can decrease the risk of death by 68 percent, its success is not always found in a patient’s ability to
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How I Was First Introduced to the ABCDEF Bundle
“Would you be willing to walk intubated patients on ventilators?” my future nurse manager asked me during my initial interview. As a new nurse, I failed to fully understand the importance of this question and eagerly answered, “Yes! Of course! Teach me everything.” During my first few years working as a nurse in an Awake
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Before Kali, our hospital struggled with overly-sedated patients and lack of early mobility. Despite multiple efforts to change the culture, we were at a standstill. In one hour, Kali was able to ignite a flurry of conversations regarding her experience with the Awake and Walking ICU™ and this immediately led to a change in clinical practice.
Patients with less sedation and other neurotoxic medications are spending fewer days on the ventilator. If you are considering starting an ICU early mobility program at your hospital, your first step needs to be to consult with Kali and absorb as much information as you can!
Matthew McClain, DPT
Florida, USA
Perception Versus Reality: Debunking The Myths About Medically-Induced Comas
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