Article Writing Homework Help

I need help creating a thesis and an outline on Whether Oral Hygeine in Ventilated Patients can Reduce Ventilator Associated Pnuemonia. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide. An abstract is required. VAP is the most serious complication of critical illness, and this occurs not due to the illness per se, but due to the management of the patient, and in that sense, although slightly an overexpression, this may be termed as an iatrogenic condition that merits strict monitoring and care in order to prevent it. On the whole, hospital-acquired pneumonia occurring in patients after 48 hours of admission, who were admitted with no preexisting pneumonia and placed on a ventilator is known as ventilator-associated pneumonia (Girou et al., 1998).

This is an important safety issue in patients with critical illness for which they receive mechanical ventilation. Nursing is a very important aspect of care in patients on the ventilator since adequate, competent, and effective nursing care can prevent both mortality and morbidity associated with VAP (Tokars et al., 2004). In patients with VAP, it has been reported that there is 20% to 55% mortality. Moreover, with the onset of VAP, there has been a reported increase in hospital stay which in itself may have morbid complications. Therefore, the occurrence of VAP is a dreaded complication, especially when it is caused by a multi-drug resistant pathogen accounting for 76% of mortality when it occurs (Torres et al., 2001). To meet the competency standards of practice and to remain accountable in practice are very important aspects of nursing care. The main reason the patients on ventilator needs to be monitored and managed with dexterity is ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), which adds to the morbidity and mortality statistics associated with ventilator management and hence this condition needs to be prevented. As has been indicated by Misset et al. (2004), VAP is the most serious complication of critical illness, and this occurs not due to the illness per se, but due to the management of the patient. (Misset et al., 2004) The magnitude of the problem will be more relevant from the fact that this accounts for almost half the intensive care unit infections in Europe (Vincent et al., 1995).

Practice Issues

These facts indicate that there are indeed relevant practice issues involved in the management, care, and monitoring of the patients on mechanical ventilation. Among many reasons, VAP is the most serious complications of critical illness, many of which are preventable by appropriate care. The incidence of VAP is highest in the first week of ventilation, and among the survivors, the VAP increases the duration of ventilation with increased conditional risk and increased attributable mortality among the survivors (Cook et al., 1998).&nbsp.&nbsp.