Exploring long-term impacts on ICU survivors: A concept analysis of post-intensive care syndrome

Abstract

Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) has emerged as a concern for intensive care unit (ICU) survivors, particularly in the context of the increasing survival rates of patients with severe illness. This syndrome encompasses a range of physical, cognitive, and psychological impairments that can continue long after ICU discharge. PICS impacts survivors’ quality of life, with common manifestations including muscle weakness, memory deficits, and depression. Despite growing awareness, PICS remains underexplored in clinical practice,

CJCCN Volume 36, Number 2, Summer 2025

CJCCN Volume 36, Number 1, Spring 2025

Editorial Management Team

The Chief Editor, Co-Editors and the Editorial Advisory Board members are volunteer CACCN Members.

Our Peer Reviewers are also volunteers who give of their time and expertise to assist the CACCN in producing a high quality scientific journal.

Optimizing the role of nurses in critical care in weaning patients from the ventilator : a multiple-case study

Abstract:

Background:

Prolonged mechanical ventilation is harmful for patients requiring prompt weaning approaches from an interprofessional team with different and overlapping scopes of practice. Nurses play a key role in interprofessional teams, and optimization of their role can reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation.

Purpose: To understand the role of nurses in critical care in healthcare teams when weaning patients from mechanical ventilation.

Methods: Multiple-case study with concurrent mixed methods data collection was conducted in two critical care units following a pilot study in Québec,

CJCCN Volume 35, Number 3, Winter 2024

Implementation of a swallow screening protocol in a tertiary adult intensive care unit: A quality improvement project

Abstract

Background: Post-extubation dysphagia occurs in 3% to 62% of adults who have received invasive mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit (ICU). A stepwise approach to identify dysphagia includes a routine swallow screening in patients who are recently extubated followed by a formal assessment by a Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP), in the event of a failed swallow screen, has been suggested. This quality improvement project aimed to implement and evaluate a new post-extubation swallow screening process.

A rapid scoping review of barriers and facilitators of implementing delirium prevention practices in adult critical care

Abstract

Background: Delirium is a serious complication of critical care that can have lasting effects on the patient’s life. Much of the work to date about delirium has been focused on identifying delirium risk factors, developing tools for screening and recognizing delirium, and testing interventions to treat those diagnosed with delirium. Despite evidence, implementing known delirium prevention and management strategies remains abysmal. This review aimed to identify and summarize literature reporting on the barriers and facilitators of implementing delirium prevention and management practices in adult critical care.

CJCCN Volume 35, Number 2, Fall 2024

CJCCN Volume 35, Number 1, Spring/Summer 2024