Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Sharon Edwards.
This paper provides a comprehensive review of the pathophysiological responses to an insult to the body. It is generally not the extent of the initial injury but rather the less understood, incredibly complex, diffuse cellular complications that cause irreversible damage to cells, tissues and organs. The effects of this can last for months or years after the initial insult.
The first paper in this series discussed the physiological processes that occur within cells following an injury. This second and final paper looks at the physiological responses that occur following a hypoxic injury, including the problems caused by free radicals, nitric oxide and calcium. The implications for practice that result will be discussed in detail.
This article provides a review of the pathophysiological responses of the body to an insult. Once the initial insult has occurred, common pathways are identifiable: the inflammatory immune response (IIR), the neuroendocrine system is stimulated, and endothelial damage initiates the clotting cascade, all of which play an important role in maintaining haemodynamic normality and promote healing. However, after an injury/insult patients are exposed to treatments, invasive procedures and may develop complications which can stimulate further these physiological processes. This can lead to alterations in oxygen supply and demand, metabolism and to the distribution of circulating volume. In some situations this can lead to overstimulation of the processes which, instead of promoting healing, cause damage. Why this downward progression and overstimulation occurs in some patients, despite optimum efforts at treatment, are not fully understood, but can lead to serious organ damage and even death days or weeks after the insult.
Nursing knowledge covers those aspects of knowledge that are relevant to nursing. The types of knowledge in nursing are many and varied, the generation of knowledge therefore becomes complex. Nurses need to go beyond traditional ways of understanding nursing to redefine nursing knowledge. This could determine the nature of the profession in the 21st century. Nursing must explore new ways of thinking about and explaining the profession--there will always be new directions to take and new avenues to explore.
This paper explores the clinical significance of sensory alteration within critical care. The factors that lead to inappropriate sensory stimuli such as stress, impact of technology and noise are outlined. Such stimuli can lead to serious complications and an extended stay in hospital. Nurses may help prevent sensory imbalance by thoughtful, compassionate and collaborative nursing care.