Critical Care Manual of Clinical Procedures and Competencies

 This manual is aimed at all healthcare practitioners, from novice to expert, who care for the critically ill patient, recognising that different disciplines contribute to the provision of effective care and that essential knowledge and skills are shared by all practitioners. It provides evidence-based guidelines on core critical care procedures and includes a comprehensive competency framework and specific competencies to enable practitioners to assess their abilities and expertise. Each chapter provides a comprehensive overview, beginning with basic principles and progressing to more complex ideas, to support practitioners to develop their knowledge, skills and competencies in critical care.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of contributors

Foreword by Julian Bion

Foreword by Ged Williams

Preface

List of abbreviations

Chapter 1 Scope and delivery of evidence-based care
John W. Albarran and Annette Richardson

Chapter 2 Competency-based practice
Julie Scholes, Jo Richmond and Jane Mallett

Chapter 3 Recognizing and managing the critically ill and ‘at risk’ patient on a ward
Mandy Odell

Chapter 4 Admitting a critically ill patient
Vanessa Gibson and Karen Hill

Chapter 5 Assessment, monitoring and interventions for the respiratory system
Maureen Coombs, Judy Dyos, David Waters and Ian Nesbitt

Chapter 6 Monitoring of the cardiovascular system: insertion and assessment
Alan T. Platt, Sarah Conolly and Jonathan Round

Chapter 7 Titration of inotropes and vasopressors
Kirsty Rutledge

Chapter 8 Assessment and support of hydration and nutrition status and care
Kirsty Rutledge and Ian Nesbitt

Chapter 9 Continuous renal replacement therapies: assessment, monitoring and care
Annette Richardson and Jayne Whatmore

Chapter 10 Assessment and monitoring of analgesia, sedation, delirium and neuromuscular blockade levels and care
Phil Laws and Nicola Rudall

Chapter 11 Assessment and monitoring of neurological status
Margaret A. Douglas and Sarah E.C. Platt

Chapter 12 Assessment and care of tissue viability, and mouth and eye hygiene needs
Philip Woodrow, Judy Elliott and Pauline Beldon

Chapter 13 Assessment of sleep and sleep promotion
Annette Richardson, Micheala Allsop and Elaine Coghill

Chapter 14 Physical mobility and exercise interventions for critically ill patients
D.J. McWilliams and Amanda Thomas

Chapter 15 Transfer of the critically ill patient
Andrew Baker and Simon M. Whiteley

Chapter 16 Rehabilitation from critical illness
Catherine I. Plowright and Christina Jones

Chapter 17 Withdrawal of treatment and end of life care for the critically ill patient
Natalie A. Pattison

Chapter 18 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Jackie S. Younker and Jasmeet Soar

References and further reading

Useful websites

Index