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.