Before providing education to the patient and the patient's family members, the nurse should assess the most effective way to teach the patient. Some patients learn better with audio materials, including videos. Other patients may learn better with visual materials, including pamphlets, brochures, and packets. By assessing the patient's preferred learning method, the nurse can increase the patient's ability to comprehend the information being given to them. Other ways in which the nurse may educate the patient on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) include checklists, drawings, and questionnaires. - Wesley (WB and EB)

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most preventable conditions associated with ventilated patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients should be intubated for not longer than 14-21 days. If the patient receives mechanical ventilation for prolonged periods of time, the patient's risk of VAP increases. - Elyssa (WB and EB)

Although it is not possible in all circumstances, the nurse and physician should avoid placing a nasogastric (NG) tube in the patient whenever possible. When an NG tube is placed, it bypasses the esophageal sphincters. This increases the risk for aspiration of gastric contents into the lungs. This can result in aspiration pneumonia. - Elyssa (WB and EB)

Hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways in which infection can be prevented. As with out infectious conditions, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) can be prevented with the use of hand hygiene by both healthcare professionals and visitors. Healthcare professionals and visitors should be educated on proper hand hygiene techniques. - Wesley (WB and EB)

Researchers in the study acknowledged the presence of heterogeneity between the study performed and the literature that was reviewed. Although the heterogeneity may have not been a limitation of the study, it does have an impact on the validity of the results. This is because the multiple studies that were performed did not have matching results and conclusions. - Elyssa (WB and EB)

Although the interventions used for the condition in each setting are similar, each hospital system has its own ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) bundle and/or protocol. This lack of standardization highlights the multifactorial causes of VAP. To develop a single, gold standard VAP bundle, researchers need to incorporate all the factors that may be encountered in the intensive care unit across the nation and the world. - Wesley (WB and EB)

Each hospital system typically has its own version of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) bundles. These bundles can include interventions such as elevating the head-of-the-bed, early ambulation, frequent oral care, and daily sedation vacations. The lack of a common bundle between hospital systems highlights VAP's multifactorial etiology. - Wesley (WB and EB)

When attempting to prevent peptic ulcer disease (PUD), the nurse should expect the healthcare provider to order medications such as proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 antagonists. An example of a proton pump inhibitor that the physician may order is pantoprazole (Protonix).

When preventing the development of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the nurse should expect to administer an anticoagulant. Heparin is an anticoagulant that is commonly used to prevent DVT's. Another intervention that the nurse can implement is the application of sequential compression devices (SCD's). - Elyssa (WB and EB)

To implement multidisciplinary measures, the nurse should include the physician and respiratory therapist's experience and knowledge to effectively prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Education is important for healthcare professionals as it increases their understanding of VAP and the interventions that are needed to prevent additional cases of VAP in their patients. - Elyssa (WB and EB)

Elevating the patient's head-of-the-bed is one of the most effective ways in which the nurse can prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Repositioning the patient to semi-Fowler's or high-Fowler's promotes lung expansion, which increases the patient's ability to ventilate. - Wesley (WB & EB)