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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

A New Single Chamber Implantable Defibrillator with Atrial Sensing: A Practical Demonstration of Sensing and Ease of Implantation
Published on: February 28, 2012
Almost normal: experiences of adolescents with implantable cardioverter defibrillators
Vicki L Zeigler1, Tommie Nelms
1Texas Woman's University, College of Nursing, Denton, TX, USA. vickize@msn.com
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of adolescents with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs).
Design And Methods:
This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of 14 adolescents with ICDs using face-to-face, semistructured interviews.
Results:
Six themes were identified: life interrupted; still the same, except; sometimes it's tough; it cuts both ways; unique joule; and living life regular.
Practice Implications:
These findings suggest that nurses could make a significant impact on the lives of adolescents with ICDs by focusing their efforts away from viewing the adolescent through an illness lens and more toward a normalization lens.
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