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.
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
