Abstract

Session presented on: Tuesday, July 23, 2013:

Although nutrition plays an important part in positive patient outcomes, many studies have shown that Intensive Care (ICU) patients receive inadequate nutrition. Ventilator dependent ICU patients receive even less nutrition. Impaired nutrition is linked to impaired immune response, impaired ventilatory drive and weakened respiratory muscles. This can lead to prolonged dependence on respirators, increased length of stay, and increased infectious morbidity and mortality. Other complications of poor nutrition include impaired tissue healing, increased physiological stress, and an increase in hospital acquired infections and ulcers. An evidence-based practice project was implemented consisting of the use of an enteral nutrition feeding protocol for ventilator dependent patients. Pre-intervention data was compared to post-intervention data. Results showed that the use of the enteral nutrition protocol resulted in earlier feeding, as well as more complete feedings of mechanically ventilated patients.

Author Details

Corinne Schultz Ellis, DNP, MSN, BSN

Sigma Membership

Epsilon Rho

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

N/A

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Mechanical Ventilation, Evidence Based Practice, Nutrition

Conference Name

24th International Nursing Research Congress

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Prague, Czech Republic

Conference Year

2013

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Improving nutrition for mechanically ventilated patients

Prague, Czech Republic

Session presented on: Tuesday, July 23, 2013:

Although nutrition plays an important part in positive patient outcomes, many studies have shown that Intensive Care (ICU) patients receive inadequate nutrition. Ventilator dependent ICU patients receive even less nutrition. Impaired nutrition is linked to impaired immune response, impaired ventilatory drive and weakened respiratory muscles. This can lead to prolonged dependence on respirators, increased length of stay, and increased infectious morbidity and mortality. Other complications of poor nutrition include impaired tissue healing, increased physiological stress, and an increase in hospital acquired infections and ulcers. An evidence-based practice project was implemented consisting of the use of an enteral nutrition feeding protocol for ventilator dependent patients. Pre-intervention data was compared to post-intervention data. Results showed that the use of the enteral nutrition protocol resulted in earlier feeding, as well as more complete feedings of mechanically ventilated patients.