Suctioning techniques are a necessary nursing intervention to remove respiratory secretions and maintain optimum ventilation and oxygenation in patients who are unable to get rid of these secretions independently. This intervention can induce problems and it is important that the correct procedure is adhered to so that patient safety and comfort are maintained. Nurses should be competent in assessing the need for suction. The decision to perform this procedure should be based on the patient's clinical signs and symptoms and should not be undertaken as a matter of routine.

Introduction The Final Rule for the Protection of Human Subjects requires that informed consent be “in language understandable to the subject” and mandates that “the informed consent must be organized in such a way that facilitates comprehension.” This study assessed the readability of IRB approved informed consent forms at our institution, implemented an intervention to improve the readability of consent forms, and measured the first year impact of the intervention. Methods Readability assessment was conducted on a sample of 217 IRB approved informed consents from 2013–2015. A plain language informed consent template was developed and implemented and readability was assessed again after one year. Results The mean readability of the baseline sample was 10th grade. The mean readability of the post intervention sample (n= 82) was 7th grade. Conclusions Providing investigators with a plain language informed consent template and training can promote improved readability of informed consents for research.

Moderate doses of radical scavengers or antioxidants coupled with a conservative hyperoxic exposure regimen can result in the increased survival of random-pattern skin flaps.

Respiratory disorders are among the most common reasons for admission to critical care units in the U.K. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that nursing assessment of patients' respiratory function is not performed well because it is not considered a priority and the implications of respiratory dysfunction are underestimated. It is essential that nurses are able to recognise and assess symptoms. of respiratory dysfunction to provide early, effective and appropriate interventions, thus improving patient outcomes. This article highlights the role of the nurse in respiratory assessment and discusses the implications of clinical findings.

Respiratory disorders are among the most common reasons for admission to critical care units in the U.K. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that nursing assessment of patients' respiratory function is not performed well because it is not considered a priority and the implications of respiratory dysfunction are underestimated. It is essential that nurses are able to recognise and assess symptoms. of respiratory dysfunction to provide early, effective and appropriate interventions, thus improving patient outcomes. This article highlights the role of the nurse in respiratory assessment and discusses the implications of clinical findings.