Research Roundup

A Review of the ECMO Machine’s Role in COVID-19 Survival 

A paper by students Derrick Tam and Hollie Norman and Associate Professor Leon Chen, DNP, reviews current literature on using the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine to treat people with severe breathing problems stemming from COVID-19. The machine acts as a lung, providing the body with oxygen until the lungs recover. The review titled “Evaluating the Risks, Benefits, and Efficacy of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in Treating ARDS Secondary to COVID-19" was published in Critical Care Nursing Quarterly. 

“The utilization of ECMO therapy became more widespread following the sudden surge of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) cases during the H1N1 and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS) pandemics,” the paper says. 

Findings reveal that the machine helped patients breathe better, increasing their chances of survival. However, treatment comes with risks and potential complications and health care professionals should have specialized training to use the device effectively.   

Bridging the Gap in Acute Care Training for Nurse Practitioners 

Assistant Professor Danielle Zuma, DNP, and her colleagues published a paper detailing the development and launch of a pilot acute care radiology course that fills a critical gap in existing acute care nurse practitioner training.  

The curriculum, focused on diagnostic radiology and point-of-care ultrasound, integrates didactic learning and hands-on simulation activities. “The course design not only guided students in choosing the appropriate imaging modalities,” the paper says, “but also honed their beginner-level skills in interpreting select diagnostic images.” It has garnered high satisfaction scores from students, significantly boosting their confidence and perceived efficacy in line with key competencies. The research team published pilot findings in the Journal of American Association of Nurse Practitioners.