Background/Objectives: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is increasingly used in intensive care units (ICUs) as a rapid bedside diagnostic tool supporting timely clinical assessment. The impact of nurse-performed POCUS on clinical management, procedural performance, and professional practice in adult ICUs has not yet been systematically synthesized. This review aimed to evaluate the integration of nurse-performed POCUS into nursing care and its effects on technical, decision-making, and professional outcomes. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 and the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched without time restrictions. Original studies were included if they involved adult ICU patients and evaluated POCUS performed by nurses, reporting clinical, procedural, or professional outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed using JBI and MMAT checklists according to study design. Results: Eleven studies were included. The results were synthesized into four primary domains: (1) support for the clinical decision-making process, (2) technical performance and procedural outcomes, (3) diagnostic accuracy, and (4) professional autonomy, training, and sustainability of competencies. Nurse-performed POCUS was associated with management changes in 26–67% of assessments and improved first-attempt success in ultrasound-guided peripheral venous access. Diagnostic accuracy was acceptable when supported by structured training, with no reported increase in complications. Conclusions: Nurse-performed POCUS in adult ICUs appears safe and practice-enhancing, supporting decision-making and selected procedural outcomes. Further multi-center controlled studies are required to clarify its impact on major clinical endpoints and long-term outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is increasingly used in critical care to support real-time clinical decision-making. Although traditionally performed by physicians, recent advances have enabled nurses to integrate POCUS into their practice. In the intensive care unit (ICU), where timely and accurate assessments are critical, POCUS performed by nurses can improve diagnostic accuracy, guide clinical interventions, and improve patient outcomes. However, the overall impact of this practice has not yet been systematically evaluated. Aim: This systematic review aims in terms of clinical decision-making, diagnostic accuracy, timeliness of care, and patient-related outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The protocol follows the PRISMA-P 2015 guidelines and is registered in PROSPERO (N. CRD420251114795). A comprehensive literature search will be conducted in four databases: PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Web of Science. The review will include primary peer-reviewed studies involving adult ICU patients and assessing POCUS performed by nurses. The quality of the study will be evaluated using the JBI Critical Appraisal Tools. Data will be synthesized narratively and quantitatively, where possible. EXPECTED RESULTS: This review will provide a structured synthesis of existing evidence on nurse-led POCUS in intensive care. It will explore its clinical utility and influence on decision-making, care quality, and patient outcomes. DISCUSSION: Findings are expected to inform clinical practice, training strategies, and policy development to integrate nurse-performed POCUS into ICU protocols. This review may also identify gaps in the literature to guide future research.

Introduction: Pulse oximetry is a technology for monitoring oxygen saturation (SpO2) in various clinical settings. However, measurement of SpO2 value can have different accuracy depending on some factors such as the sensor placement (on the finger or on the head). This narrative review was conducted to synthetize the better evidence to compare finger and forehead pulse oximetry in patients requiring Sp02 monitoring, in order to identify which method was the most effective for nursing practice. Objective: to describe the potential effectiveness of pulse oximetry saturation measurement using finger sensors versus forehead sensors, focusing exclusively on their reliability in various clinical conditions.This analysis aims to identify the most accurate method for SpO2 monitoring in nursing practice, particularly when addressing challenges related to peripheral perfusion and motion artifacts. Materials and Methods: A narrative review was conducted through the PubMed and CINAHL databases, the selected articles had to answer the following research questions: “Which sensor placement, finger or forehead, is most effective for measuring oxygen saturation (SpO2) in patients with compromised peripheral perfusion?”; and “Between finger pulse oximetry and forehead pulse oximetry, which is considered the gold standard for accurate SpO2 measurement? “ Results: Four studies were selected.The selected studies show that forehead sensors provide more reliable and accurate measurements, especially under adverse conditions, due to their resistance to peripheral vasoconstriction and motion artifacts. Finger sensors, while widely used, exhibit limitations in physiologically stressful situations. Conclusions: The finger pulse oximetry remains the standard in most scenarios, but forehead sensors may provide more reliable readings in critically ill patients with compromised peripheral perfusion.

Introduction: The launch of the robotic surgery program in our hospital showed that the main challenges did not concern the technology itself but rather the organization of work. Delays in operating room preparation, unclear task distribution, fragmented communication among professionals, and inconsistent management of instrument traceability highlighted the absence of a clearly defined coordination function. Methods: Through descriptive observations drawn from daily activity during the initial phases of the program, operational episodes, team dynamics, and workflow patterns were recorded in order to understand how the system adapted to the introduction of the robotic platform. Results: From these observations, the figure of the “Da Vinci Coordinator” (DVC) emerged locally as a practical response to organizational challenges. This function contributed to aligning tasks among teams, making workflow preparation more predictable, improving interprofessional communication, and supporting internal training activities. The few descriptive indicators included served solely to contextualize the experience. Conclusion: The DVC function was not conceived as a formalized or generalizable professional role, but rather as an emergent organizational adaptation useful during the implementation phase of a robotic program. The considerations presented may offer insights for other centers preparing to introduce robotic surgery; however, further structured studies will be necessary to assess its transferability to different contexts.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a growing health problem. It is a chronic inflammatory lung disorder characterized by progressive, poorly reversible airflow limitation. The identification of modifiable risk factors for prevention and related patient health education have given positive results. We have passed from the observation of risk factors to a careful diet rich in substances capable of improving lung function. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify, describe and summarize previous studies that have investigated the importance of health education about nutrition in patients with COPD. Materials and methods: For this scope, a review process was conducted following these five steps: 1) identification of the research problem, 2) literature research, 3) data evaluation, 4) data analysis and 5) presentation of the synthesis of the results. After the identification of the research problem, the second phase of the literature research was conducted using the CINAHL and PubMed databases. MeSH search terms included: COPD, health education, malnutrition, and Quality of Life. These terms have been combined each other using boolean operators. The electronic research was limited to the articles published in the English language within the past 10 years. Studies that responded to the hypotheses of bibliographic research were considered. Primary studies, systematic reviews and guidelines were included. Bibliographic research was conducted from 1 June 2024 to 24 October 2024. Results: Some studies show that by eliminating risk factors, improving nutrition and educating the patient to self-manage the disease through tertiary prevention programs, there has been an improvement in the patients’ quality of life. Conclusion: Correct health education is important to have “instructions” on the pathology and its self-help management. Outcomes are enhanced by self-efficacy interventions that aim to achieve a healthy lifestyle through behavior modification, especially about diet.

Introduction: A laparotomy is a surgical procedure involving an abdominal incision to access the peritoneal cavity, commonly performed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, including trauma management and the treatment of gynecological, pelvic, and abdominal conditions. In this context, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) serves as an effective adjunct to wound management by applying subatmospheric pressure to the wound bed, thereby promoting granulation tissue formation and reducing local inflammation. Objective: This systematic review will aim to evaluate the efficacy of NPWT compared to standard wound care in adult patients undergoing laparotomy, with specific attention to key clinical outcomes such as wound healing time, surgical site infection rates, wound dehiscence, and overall complication rates. Materials and methods: The systematic review follows the PRISMA guidelines and uses the PICO framework for search terms. The studies will be identified through important databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL and Web of Science). Methodological quality and risk of bias will be assessed with JBI critical assessment tools. This protocol for a systematic review has been registered on PROSPERO (N. CRD420251058825). Results: The results of the systematic search and selection process will be reported using a PRISMA flowchart. The extracted data will include wound healing time, granulation tissue development, infection rates, and adverse events. The quantitative synthesis will be conducted if the homogeneity of the data allows it. Conclusions: This systematic review will synthesize the available evidence on the efficacy of NPWT in the management of laparotomy wounds. The findings will have implications for clinical practice in surgical wound care and may contribute to the development of standardized wound management protocols.