Background: Sleep disturbances in intensive care unit (ICU) patients have been studied worldwide for over 30 years. Factors contributing to sleep disturbances are still being identified, and therapeutic procedures aimed at the mitigation of such ailments are consequently being developed. Objectives: The aim of this study was to review the literature on sleep disturbances in intensive care unit patients. Material and Methods: MEDLINE PubMed, OVID, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases have been searched using adequate keywords. Results: Sleep disorders in ICUs were common among all of the analysed articles. Noise plays a significant role in sleep interruption (11.5 - 17% of awakenings). It was noted that the introduction of “white noise” into the ICU environment proved unsuccessful in reducing the magnitude of changing noise levels. Nursing care activities significantly disturb nocturnal rest, and 42.7 such procedures per every 12-hour night shift were registered. Aggregating nursing care interventions was suggested in order to reduce the number of stimuli experienced by the patient. Conclusion: Changes in sleep structure developing during an ICU stay may significantly contribute to sleep disorders once the hospitalisation is over.

Wstęp: Celem tego systematycznego przeglądu było podsumowanie obecnej literatury na temat upośledzenia funkcji poznawczych u osób dorosłych po zabiegach operacyjnych.Materiał i metody: Prześledzono bazy MEDLINE: PubMed, OVID, Web of Science, EBSCO, używając odpowiednich słów kluczowych. Dokonano przeglądu literatury na temat zaburzeń poznawczych po zabiegach operacyjnych oraz analizy czynników ryzyka wystąpienia POCD.Wyniki: Prześledzono wyniki z siedmiu artykułów opisujących badania neuropsychologiczne 2796 pacjen-tów. Testy przeprowadzane były w bardzo krótkim czasie od zabiegu (7 dni), krótkim czasie (3 miesięcy) oraz odległej perspektywie (12 – 60 miesięcy). POCD w bardzo krótkim czasie po operacji występowało z różną częstością: od 17 do 56% z tendencją do ustępowania w miarę upływu czasu (3 – 34,2%). Zidentyfikowano czynniki ryzyka POCD: zaawansowany wiek, insuliooporność, krótki okres kształcenia. Rodzaj operacji, znieczulenia oraz mikrozatorowość związana z użyciem CPB nie wpływają na występowanie POCD.Wnioski: Patomechanizm powstawania pooperacyjnych zaburzeń poznawczych nie jest do końca znany, jed-nak wydaje się, że należy skupić uwagę na poszukiwaniu pozaproceduralnych czynników ryzyka oraz opracować zalecenia postępowania okołooperacyjnego, co mogłoby być korzystne dla pacjen-tów zagrożonych upośledzeniem funkcji poznawczych po zabiegach operacyjnych.

Introduction: Music is an intriguing but relatively under-researched intervention with many potential benefits for mechanically ventilated patients. The review aimed to assess the impact of listening to music as a non-pharmacological intervention on the physiological, psychological, and social responses of patients in an intensive care unit. Methods: The literature review was conducted in the fourth quarter of 2022. The overview included papers found in Science Direct, EBSCO, PubMed, Ovid, Scopus, and original research papers published in English meeting the PICOS criteria. Articles published between 2010 and 2022 meeting the inclusion criteria were included for further analysis. Results: Music significantly affects vital parameters: decreases the heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing; reduces pain intensity. The analyses confirmed that music affects anxiety levels, reduces sleep disturbances and delirium occurrence, and improves cognitive function. The effectiveness of the intervention is influenced by the choice of music. Conclusions: There is evidence of the beneficial effects of music on a patient’s physiological, psychological, and social responses. Music therapy is highly effective in reducing anxiety and pain and stabilizes physiological parameters, i.e., the heart rate and respiratory rate, after music sessions in mechanically ventilated patients. Studies show that music reduces agitation in confused patients, improves mood, and facilitates communication.

Practicing the algorithms of basic life support (BLS) is essential in order to take adequate measures to save lives, and future nursing staff should be advanced when it comes to performing lifesaving activities. The purpose of the study was to analyse the theoretical and practical knowledge of nursing students (within the undergraduate course) with regards to the basic life support (BLS). The study has a prospective, comparative and descriptive nature. Three countries that educate nursing students within the undergraduate course participated in the project. Data was collected with the use of a questionnaire based on the guidelines of the European Resuscitation Council (ERC 2015). The study was carried out among a total of 748 respondents from three countries: Poland (n = 189, 25.3%), Lithuania (n = 500, 66.8%) and Spain (n = 59; 7.9%). The average age of respondents was 23.41 (SD ± 5.90). The average score obtained by the respondents who answered the questions was 11.13 with a standard deviation of SD ± 2.29. The conducted study revealed that a substantial number of the respondents who participated in the study obtained an average result concerning theoretical and practical knowledge of BLS. It was also confirmed that the additional education in the form of first aid training courses has a major impact on improving the levels of knowledge among the students in each of the analysed country.

Background: One of the key elements of patient care is the relief and prevention of pain sensations. The importance of pain prevention and treatment has been emphasized by many international organizations. Despite the recommendations and guidelines based on evidence, contemporary research shows that the problem of pain among patients in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in various centers is still an important and neglected problem. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge of the medical personnel and their perception of the issue of pain in neonatal patients. Methods: A quantitative descriptive study carried out in 2019. The study used a nurses’ perceptions of neonatal pain questionnaire. Results: A total of 43 Polish hospitals and 558 respondents participated in the project. 60.9% (n = 340) and 39.1% (n = 218) of respondents were employed in secondary and tertiary referral departments, respectively. Conclusion: Our analyses indicate that despite the availability of pain assessment tools for neonatal patients, only a few centers use standardized tools. The introduction of strategies to promote and extend the personnel’s awareness of neonatal pain monitoring scales is necessary.

Intensive care units and well-qualified medical staff are indispensable for the proper functioning of every hospital facility. Due to demographic changes and technological progress having extended the average life expectancy, the number of patients hospitalized in intensive care units increases every year [9,10]. Global shortages of nursing staff (including changes in their age structure) have triggered a debate on the working environment and workload the nursing staff are exposed to while performing their duties. This paper provides a critical review of selected methods for the measurement of the workload of intensive care nurses and points out their practical uses. The paper reviews Polish and foreign literature on workload and the measurement tools used to evaluate workload indicators.