Critical care nurse internships: in theory and practice

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 115-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
ME Kopp ◽  
KA Schell ◽  
L Laskowski-Jones ◽  
PK Morelli
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Staff Nurses ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Staff Nurse ◽  
Orientation Programs ◽  
Graduate Nurses ◽  
Care Nurse ◽  
Didactic Instruction ◽  
Critical Care Units

The CCNIP is a 6-month program that provides didactic instruction and supervised clinical experience to graduate nurses desiring critical care staff nurse positions. During rotations through four critical care units, interns are cross-trained to handle a variety of patient care scenarios. Upon completion of the program nurses are required to fulfill an 18-month service commitment to a critical care unit within the institution. During its 6 years of operation the CCNIP has promoted clinical competency and assisted in the recruitment and retention of staff nurses in critical care. Considering these outcomes, other critical care educators and administrators may want to consider implementing nurse internships as an alternative to traditional orientation programs.

scholarly journals Implementing target range oxygen in critical care: A quality improvement pilot study

2019 ◽  
pp. 175114371989278
Author(s):  
Rosie Heartshorne ◽  
Jenna Cardell ◽  
Ronan O'Driscoll ◽  
Tim Fudge ◽  
Paul Dark
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Target Range ◽  
Baseline Survey ◽  
Staff Attitudes ◽  
Critical Care Units ◽  
Staff Members

Background Iatrogenic hyperoxaemia is common on critical care units and has been associated with increased mortality. We commenced a quality improvement pilot study to analyse the views and practice of critical care staff regarding oxygen therapy and to change practice to ensure that all patients have a prescribed target oxygen saturation range. Methods A baseline measurement of oxygen target range prescribing was undertaken alongside a survey of staff attitudes. We then commenced a programme of change, widely promoting an agreed oxygen target range prescribing policy. The analyses of target range prescribing and staff survey were repeated four to five months later. Results Thirty-three staff members completed the baseline survey, compared to 29 in the follow-up survey. There was no discernible change in staff attitudes towards oxygen target range prescribing. Fifty-four patients were included in the baseline survey and 124 patients were assessed post implementation of changes. The proportion of patients with an oxygen prescription with a target range improved from 85% to 95% (χ2 = 5.17, p = 0.02) and the proportion of patients with an appropriate prescribed target saturation range increased from 85% to 91% (χ2 = 1.4, p = 0.24). The improvement in target range prescribing was maintained at 96% 12 months later. Conclusions The introduction and promotion of a structured protocol for oxygen prescribing were associated with a sustained increase in the proportion of patients with a prescribed oxygen target range on this unit.

Alcohol and trauma: the critical link

1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
MS Sommers
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Critical Illness ◽  
Problem Drinking ◽  
Traumatic Injury ◽  
Nursing Interventions ◽  
Care Nurse ◽  
Critical Care Nurse ◽  
Critical Care Units ◽  
Critical Link

The link between traumatic injury and alcohol consumption is strong. Although statistics vary, from one half to one third of trauma victims admitted to critical care units have an alcohol-related injury. The initial role of the critical care nurse is to identify the presence of alcohol by monitoring the patient's BAC. Once the presence of alcohol is confirmed, its effects impact directly on the plan of care that evolves during the critical illness. Nursing interventions focus on four specific areas affected by alcohol: the ability of alcohol to mask injury, the effects of alcohol on medications, alcohol withdrawal, and rehabilitation from alcoholism. By incorporating these four areas into the plan of care, the critical care nurse assists the patient not only to recover from a traumatic injury but also to deal with a problem drinking pattern.

Occult Tuberculosis in the Intensive Care Unit

1994 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott E. Eveloff ◽  
Walter E. Donat ◽  
Sidney S. Braman
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Rhode Island ◽  
Hospitalized Patients ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Delay In Diagnosis ◽  
Critical Care Units ◽  
Patient Morbidity ◽  
Unexplained Fever ◽  
Empiric Antibiotic ◽  
Hypoxic Respiratory Failure

Mycobacterium (TB) is often a subtle disease. Unrecognized TB may occur in hospitalized patients and contribute to increased patient morbidity and even mortality. To determine the magnitude of this problem in the critical care unit, we retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients with cultures positive for TB who were admitted to the critical care units of the Rhode Island Hospital between 1981 and 1991. Fourteen such patients (mean age, 59; range, 31-84 years) wsere identified from a total of 100 cases of proven TB among all hospitalized patients during this 11-year period. Thirteen of 14 patients had risk factors known to predispose to TB, including alcoholism, malnutrition, and immunosuppression. No patient was known to have TB at the time of ICU admission. The median time from admission to definitive diagnosis or death was 25 days; TB was the primary or contributing cause of death in 9 of 14 patients. Reasons for the marked delay in diagnosis and subsequent high mortality include (1) a low yield of initial diagnostic tests for TB, (2) nonspecific radiographic studies, (3) willingness of critical care staff to attribute overwhelming illness to more common conditions seen in the ICU, and (4) empiric antibiotic or immunosuppressive therapy directed at nontuberculous processes. In all patients, TB was a strong diagnostic consideration but was dismissed when initial noninvasive and invasive studies were unrevealing. IN critically ill patients with unexplained fever and hypoxic respiratory failure, TB should be strongly considered despite negative diagnostic studies.

The Basic Knowledge Assessment Tool (BKAT) for critical care nursing: its use and effect on orientation programs

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
JC Toth ◽  
MM Dennis
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Critical Care Nursing ◽  
Orientation Programs ◽  
Care Experience ◽  
Critical Care Units ◽  
Actual Use ◽  
Care Nursing

Findings from this study of 54 subjects who used the BKAT-3 in their professional practice indicate that it is being used most frequently in orientation programs conducted in critical care units, and that content and scores of the BKAT have resulted in changes in those programs. Scores are also being used for placement of nurses with previous critical care experience. In addition, findings from this study and from the literature indicate that research continues to be conducted using scores on the BKAT as a dependent variable, and that moderate to moderately high correlations exist between intended and actual use of the BKAT.

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