Critical Care Nursing
who may need to move to critical care unit.
NELT 102 Acute/Critical Care Nursing
Course Description: This course is designed
to introduce the student to care for critically
ill patients. Emphasis is on rapid
assessment, setting priorities, rapid decision
making and appropriate nursing
interventions. This course may include
cases with cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal,
neurologic, and multi-system alterations.
Critical Care
A service for patients with potentially
recoverable diseases who can benefit from
more detailed observation and treatment
than is generally available in the standard
wards and department.
Critical care settings:
Intensive care
High Dependency Unit
Progressive Care Unit
Outreach Care
Intensive Care Unit: Reserved for patients
with potential or established organ failure
and must therefore provide the facilities for
the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of
multiple organ failure.
High-Dependency Unit (HDU): Offers
standard of care intermediate between that
available on the general ward and that in
the ICU. For patients at risk for developing
organ failure.
Progressive Care Unit: Provide a stepdown
facility for patients being discharged from
ICU.
Outreach Care: Provide critical care advice
and skills to any patient throughout the
hospital. Provide support to a patient either
returning from critical care unit to general
ward or support patients on general ward
who are showing signs of deterioration and
Critical Care Nursing
American Assoc. of Critical Care Nurses
(AACN): Specialty within nursing which
deals specifically with human responses to
life threatening illness.
It is the delivery of specialized care
to critically ill patients those with
life-threatening illnesses or injuries;
unstable, have complex needs, and
require intensive and vigilant nursing
care.
The Critical Care Nurse
Responsible for making sure that
critically ill patients and members of
their families receive close attention
and the best care possible
The 8 Essential Nursing Competencies:
1. Clinical judgment
2. Advocacy and moral agency
3. Caring practices
4. Collaboration
5. Systems thinking
6. Response to diversity
7. Clinical inquiry
8. Facilitator of learning
The AACN Synergy Model for Patient: The
needs or characteristics of Patients and
Families influence and drive the
characteristics and competencies of Nurses.
When the Nurses competencies
match with the needs and
characteristics of patientssynergy
or more effective outcomes result.
Nurses need to be proficient in
multiple dimensions of nursing
continuums.
The Critically Ill Patient
 Sleep Deprivation has adverse 4. Pulmonary embolism
effect: impaired immunity and 5. Status asthmaticus
healing, increase O2 consumption 6. Air leak disorders
and CO2 production, negative 7. Thoracic surgery
Nitrogen balance and stimulation of 8. Mechanical ventilation
the fight or flight response
Cardiovascular Conditions
Powerlessness & Hopelessness --
1. Hypotension
impede recovery and can lead to
2. Acute coronary syndromes
behavioral and physiologic changes 3. Dysrhythmias
Unable to communicate well due 4. Cardiac surgery
airway device, meds and physical 5. Vascular surgery
pathology 6. Heart Failure
Can experience delirium sometimes
referred as ICU Psychosis Childbirth complications
1. Premature Rupture Of Membrane
Nursing Process 2. Hypertensive crisis
Framework in delivering standards 3. Severe hemorrhage
4. Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
of care for critically ill patients
5. Rh Factor
In-depth critical thinking
What are the steps in the Nursing Endocrine Disorders
Process? 1. Diabetic Ketoacidosis
2. Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state
Acute Illness/Injury
3. Diabetes Insipidus
a disruption in functional ability 4. Syndrome of Inappropriate Anti-diuretic
rapid onset Hormone
intense manifestations, and a 5. Thyroid storm
relatively short duration cure or
Multisystem Alterations
death
1. Shock
usually reversible
2. Systemic Inflammatory Response
can stem from chronic illnesses Syndrome (SIRS)
Common Disorders / Cases in the ICU 3. Burns
4. Organ donation & transplantation
Brain Injuries 5. Trauma
1. Hemorrhage 6. Sepsis
2. Stroke
3. Craniotomy
4. Intracranial hypertension
5. Cerebral trauma
6. Cerebral edema

Pulmonary Conditions
1. Acute respiratory failure
2. Acute respiratory distress syndrome
(ARDS)
3. Pneumonia