1. INTENSIVE CARE

2.  THE PRACTICE OF ADMINISTERING
IMMEDIATE AND CONTINUOUS CARE TO
CLIENTS WITH ACTUAL OR POTENTIALLY
LIFE-THREATENING HEALTH DISORDERS
 MORE THAN 5 MILLION CLIENTS ARE
ADMITTED ANNUALLY TO INTENSIVE CARE
UNITS IN THE UNITED STATES

3.  Brain injuries
 Cardiovascular dysfunctions
 Pulmonary dysfunctions
 Childbirth
 Complications
 Infection/sepsis
 Shock and trauma
 Endocrine abnormalities
 Multisystem alterations
 Complex surgical procedures

4.  Society of Critical Care Medicine
 Respiratory failure
 Postoperative management
 Ischemic heart disorder
 Sepsis and heart failure

5.  Increasing number of adults 65 yrs of age
 80% of older adults have at least one
chronic condition
 50 % have at least 2
 >50 % are filled with clients ages 65 yrs old
and above
 Projections : as the baby boomer generation
ages , there will be:
 a corresponding rise in chronic illness and
hospitalizations
 Increase need for critical care

6.  The aging process is characterized by
physiologic changes
 These changes, with prevalence of chronic
conditions, contribute to increased
Morbidity and mortality in critical
care units

7.  AACN defines critical care nursing as
 The specialty that deals with human
responses to life – threatening problems
 Entry level nurses – function as generalists
 Must possess a specialized body of
knowledge and skills
 - assessment (advanced), pharmacology ,
pathophysiology , biotechnology ,advanced
communication skills , problem-solving skills
and advocacy skills

8.  To provide holistic or humanistic care
to clients and their significant others.

9.  to meet the needs of clients and their
families (physical, emotional, social and
psychological needs )
 provide safe transition through the health
care system during a time of crisis
- admission in the unit is a crisis
- critical illness stimulates the stress
response

10.  The more compromised the client , the
more severe or complex are their needs .

11.  Must be able to assess key client
characteristics –
 Span the health – illness continuum and are
influenced by many factors :
 educational background, resource
availability , cultural background
 These factors , along with the clients ability
to make decisions , and level of strength
during crisis , impact the client’s ability to
participate in decision-making

12.  Can generate strong emotions in family
members
 Shock , disbelief, denial , anger, despair,
guilt, and fear of losing the client

13. SPECIALIZED NURSING CARE
- Once considered the field of critical care
nurses, is now being assumed by nurses in
progressive care units
- Progressive care is, therefore considered
part of the continuum of critical care
nursing

14.  Is significant to nursing the critically ill
 Can make a substantial difference in client
outcomes
 To meet the changing needs of the client ,
 Both critical care and progressive nurses
must create an environment that -
- promotes the best health outcomes
in a caring, competent manner to ensure
positive optimal outcomes for the clients
and families.

15.  For the nurses caring for the critically ill :
 Resiliency
 Vulnerability
 Stability
 Complexity
 Resource availability
 Participation in care
 Participation in decision making
 Predictability

16.  Clinical judgment
 Advocacy
 Caring practices
 Collaboration
 Systems thinking
 Response to diversity
 Clinical inquiry
 Facilitation of learning

17.  Validates based upon predetermined
standards
 A nurse knowledge and qualifications for
practice in a defined functional or clinical
area of nursing
 AACN Certification Corporation supports
critical care nurses by administering
specialty certification programs
 Measures what is pertinent to the care of
critically ill clients today

18.  Most up-to-date knowledge
 Promotes continuing excellence in the
nursing profession
 Standardizing care thru the use of practice
guidelines, practice alerts and protocols
 Consistent evidence-based practice
guidelines help to reduce errors and
improve quality of care delivered

19.  Critical care nursing occurs in a variety of
settings .
 Health care will be pressed to provide
efficient and cost-effective services.
 Government subsidies of health care may
not be able to keep up with the demand.
 Aging nurses are retiring or leaving critical
care
 Young or new nurses must step up to meet
the exciting challenges of critical care
nursing

20.  Despite all the challenges of the future, the
center of all health care will still be the
CLIENT, and the critical care nurse will
be the client, and the critical care nurse
will be there at the client’s side.

21.  Nursing practice
 is directed and guided by an
understanding of the definition of health
 WHO definition of health
 HOLISTIC QUALITIES
 HIGH – LEVEL WELLNESS

22.  Each person in viewed as being part of a
complex , interconnected social, biologic,
and environmental system