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Biomedical subjects

S Wingate

Publications and source records attributed to S Wingate.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Treating corneal abrasions.

Although corneal abrasions are commonly seen in primary care settings, the primary care literature contains scant references on detecting and managing this problem. This article provides an overview of corneal abrasion assessment and treatment. Four common etiologies of abrasion are discussed: traumatic abrasion, contact lens abrasion, foreign body abrasion, and recurrent erosion. Parameters for the history and physical examination are outlined, including sections on contact lens removal, lid eversion, and fluorescein staining. Treatment regimens for each of the etiologies are discussed, with a focus on current research on using pressure eye patches as an intervention. Indications for referral to an ophthalmologist are noted.

Contact Lenses↗
PubMed1997

Placement of cardiac electrodes: written, simulated, and actual accuracy.

BACKGROUND: Research has shown that critical care nurses show low accuracy on written tests of placement of electrodes, yet it is unknown how this low accuracy translates into placement of electrodes on actual patients. OBJECTIVES: To determine if accuracy scores differ between three methods (written knowledge, simulated clinical practice, actual clinical practice) of evaluating placement of continuous ECG electrodes by a group of cardiac care nurses. METHODS: A standardized scoring diagram was used with three different methods of measuring the accuracy of 44 nurses who worked on a telemetry unit or medical ICU in placing continuous ECG electrodes. The three methods were (1) written knowledge--placement of stickers on a diagram of a torso, (2) simulated clinical practice--placement of electrodes on a human model, and (3) actual clinical practice--placement of electrodes on an assigned patient. RESULTS: For the total diagram score (maximum score = 11), no significant differences among groups were found. For the V1 subscale score (maximum score = 4), a significant difference among groups was found: Scheffé's test showed that the significant difference was between simulated and actual clinical practice. Percentages of nurses achieving the maximum, or accurate, score were 18% for written knowledge, 25% for simulated clinical practice, and 9% for actual clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: Although total scores did not differ among groups, the mean scores indicate that placement of electrodes was not accurate by any method. This finding has implications for how electrode placement is taught to nurses and for the accountability of nurses for placement of electrodes on their patients.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1997

Cardiovascular anatomy and physiology in the female.

Important differences in male and female cardiovascular anatomy and physiology may account for many of the gender differences seen in various cardiac disease states. Predominant influences on female disease manifestations include (1) women's smaller body size, hence smaller hearts and smaller coronary vessels and (2) women's fluctuating levels of estrogen throughout their lifespan. Understanding these critical anatomic and physiologic differences allows the clinician to better predict and plan care for women. For example, knowing that women generally have a smaller body surface area than men allows one to better understand why men have higher creatine kinase (CK) values than do women--an important distinction when interpreting these values in the acute care setting. The fact that women's hearts and coronary vessels are generally smaller than men's also helps one understand why women have a higher in-hospital mortality than men post-coronary artery bypass graft surgery (see article by Allen in this issue for more detailed information on revascularization). These are only a few examples of the many opportunities that acute care nurses have to integrate their knowledge of anatomy and physiology into proactive planning for their female cardiac patients.

Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed1991

Acute effects of exercise on the cardiovascular system.

Exercise presents a major stress to the circulatory system. This article reviews the physiologic effects of acute exercise on the healthy cardiovascular system and contrasts them with the altered effects seen in selected cardiac conditions. The following topics are covered: oxygen production and utilization, isometric versus dynamic exercise, responses to dynamic exercise, and selected clinical applications. The major focus is on the acute effects of dynamic exercise.

Body Temperature Regulation↗
PubMed1991

Case study in perioperative right heart failure.

Today, we are increasingly aware of the important role the right ventricle plays in maintaining hemodynamic stability. When the right ventricle fails, added stress is placed on the cardiovascular system. This article focuses on patients with perioperative right heart failure and the associated complex nursing care that is needed to manage these patients. Three major nursing diagnoses are reviewed, including decreased cardiac output, impaired gas exchange, and high risk for ineffective family coping.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Women and coronary heart disease. Implications for the critical care setting.

The unique issues of women and CHD in the critical care setting have been highlighted. Because of the lack of large scientific studies in women with CHD, there is a need for more information and research in this area. Critical care nurses can meet this challenge by keeping current with the literature, by attending closely to women's responses after the cardiac event, and by systematically investigating various aspects of women and CHD.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Quality of life for women after a myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the level of quality of life and to determine the relationship of selected variables to quality of life in a sample of women after a myocardial infarction (MI). DESIGN: Ex post facto, one-group, correlational survey. SETTING: Offices of cardiologists in private practice. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive sample of 96 women who had a diagnosis of MI, and who had not undergone cardiac surgery. RESULTS: The mean quality of life score was 21.6. Significant variables in the regression equation were employment status (p < 0.01), social support (p < 0.01), and self-esteem (p = 0.04), and these three variables accounted for 45% of the variance in quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of life scores in this sample were higher than expected and similar to those of healthy populations. Those women in the sample who returned to their former employment status and had higher levels of social support and self-esteem had higher levels of quality of life.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Post-MI patients' perceptions of their learning needs.

As with other patients, those with myocardial infarction (MI) are experiencing ever-decreasing lengths of hospital stay. As critical care nurses, we must design and implement educational programs to meet these constraints. This investigator found risk factors, pathophysiology, and medications to be the high-priority education topics for these recovering MI patients.

Adult↗