Critical Care Nursing
Critical care
Critical care is term used to describe care for
patients who are extremely ill and whose clinical
condition is unstable.
It is the multidisciplinary healthcare specialty that
cares for patients with acute, life-threatening illness
or injury.
Critical care unit
It is a specially designed and equipped facility
staffed by skilled personnel to provide effective
and safe care for dependent patients with a life
threatening problem.
Critical care unit is defined as the unit in which
comprehensive care of a critically ill patient which
is deemed to recoverable stage is carried out.
Critical care team
The multidisciplinary team of health care
professionals who care for critically ill and injured
patients.
The critical care team includes predominantly the
critical care intensivist and the critical care nurse.
Other healthcare professional such as:
Physiotherapists,
Pharmacist,
Technicians,
Social workers and
Clergy may also participate as members of the critical
care team.
CRITICALLY ILL CLIENT
Required more intensive and careful nursing care
More ill
At high risk for actual or potential life- threatening
health problems
condition considered as critical
Any person with life threatening condition.
Sever shock
Heart block
Acute renal failure
Poly trauma ( multiple organ failure )
Severe burn
Any critical Abnormalities
Critical care Nurse
A critical care nurse is a licensed professional
nurse who is responsible for ensuring that
acutely and critically ill patients and their
families receive optimal care.
The Critical Care Nurse requires extensive
knowledge and a continual desire to learn
Characteristics of critical care nurse
Technical qualification
Educational background
Clinical experience
Have knowledge
Cont...Others
7Cs
1. Compassion(sympathetic pity and concern for the
sufferings or misfortunes of others)
2. Communication (with patient and family).
3. Consideration (to patients, relatives and
colleagues) and avoidance of Conflict.
4. Comfort: prevention of suffering
5. Carefulness (avoidance of injury)
6. Consistency
7. Closure (ethics and withdrawal of care).
Roles of critical care nurse
Support and respect for the patients autonomy.
Helping the patient to obtain the necessary care.
Continuous monitoring.
Efficient individualized care.
Counseling and information to family.
Application of policy and procedure.
Record all activities.
Maintain infection control principles.
Keep update with advance information.
Critical care nursing
Critical care nursing is that specialty within nursing
that deals specifically with human responses to life-
threatening problems.
It refers to comprehensive, specialized and
individualized nursing care services which are
rendered to patients with life threatening conditions
and their families.
Also known as ICU nurses.
Purposes OF THE CRITICAL CARE nursing
1. Promote optimal delivery of safe and quality care
to the critically ill patients and their families
2. Care for the critically ill patients with a holistic
approach, biological, psychological, cultural and
spiritual dimension
3. Use appropriate and up – to –date knowledge,
caring attitude and clinical skills, supported by
advanced technology for prevention, early
detection and treatment.
4. Provide palliative care to the critically ill patients
in situations.
PRINCIPLES OF CRITICAL CARE NURSING
1. ANTICIPATION(expectation or prediction):
The first principle is Anticipation.
One has to recognize the high risk patients and
anticipate the requirements, complications and be
prepared to meet any emergency.
Unit is properly organized for smooth running of the
unit.
Contd….
2. EARLY DETECTION AND PROMPT
ACTION:
The prognosis of the patient depends on the early
detection of variation, prompt and appropriate
action to prevent or combat complication.
Monitoring of cardiac respiratory, function is of
prime importance in assessment.
Contd…
3. COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE:
Critical Care, a comprehensive discipline require a
very specialized body of knowledge for the
physicians and nurses.
This fosters a partnerships for decision making and
ensures quality and compassionate patient care.
Contd…
4. COMMUNICATION:
Intra professional, inter departmental and inter
personal communication has a significant
importance in the smooth running of unit.
Contd…
5. PREVENTION OF INFECTION:
Nosocomial infection cost a lot in the health care
services.
Critically ill patients requiring intensive care are at a
greater risk than other patients due to:
immuno compromised state with the antibiotic usage
stress,
invasive lines,
mechanical ventilators,
prolonged stay and severity of illness and
environment of the critical unit itself.
Contd…
6. CRISIS INTERVENTION AND STRESS
REDUCTION:
Partnerships are formulated during crisis.
Bonds between nurses, patients and families are
stronger during hospitalization.
As patient advocates, nurses assist the patient to
express fear and identify their grieving patttern and
provide avenues for positive coping.
