CRITICAL CARE NURSING

Critical care nursing is described as the care of seriously ill clients from point of injury or illness until discharge from intensive care. It deals with human responses to life threatening problems such as trauma or major surgery. There are comprehensive, specialized and individualized nursing care services which are rendered to patients, with life threatening conditions and their families.

A critical care nurse is the primarily the one who cares for clients who are very ill. He provides a direct one-on-one care and is responsible for making life-and-death decision at high risk of injury or illness from possible exposure to infections. Being a critical care nurse, communication skill is of optimal importance

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The roles of a critical care nurse – a care provider; educator; manager; and an advocate.

Critically ill clients are the ones that are at high risk for actual or potential life- threatening health problems. They are more ill comparing to other patients which required more intensive and careful nursing care.

CLASSIFICATION OF CRITICAL CARE CLIENTS

They are classified into different levels namely: LEVEL 1- normal ward care; LEVEL 2: at risk of deteriorating, support from critical care team; LEVEL 3: more observation or intervention, single failing organ or post operative care; and LEVEL 4: advanced respiratory support or basic respiratory support, multi-organ failure.

PRINCIPLES OF CRITICAL CARE

Continuous monitoring and treatment; high intensity therapies and interventions; expert surveillance and efficiency; alert to early manifestation of other organ failure; and recognition of parameters denoting progress or deteriorating.

GOALS OF CRITICAL CARE

Towards the survival of the critical ill patients and restoring quality of life; restoring optimal physiological, psychological, social and spiritual potential; helping the families of the critically ill patients in coping with crises.