Critical care nurse
-
BACKGROUND Knowing a patient's "laboratory picture" is crucial in any code blue situation. Having no streamlined method for collecting and processing laboratory specimens during codes leads to staff frustration and critical delays in patient care. OBJECTIVE To simplify collection and testing of laboratory specimens during codes. ⋯ Laboratory staff improved their processing time (the time from when specimens are received by laboratory staff to when results are posted) from 34.9 minutes to 21.5 minutes (P = .01). Survey responses indicated that staff across disciplines were significantly more satisfied with the new process. CONCLUSIONS Because the changes are basic, they can be implemented easily in any hospital setting to improve turnaround time for laboratory tests during codes.
-
Critical care nurse · Oct 2011
Essential nursing competencies for genetics and genomics: implications for critical care.
The implications of genetics and genomics for critical care nurses are becoming more evident, not only in the care provided but also in the numerous medications administered. Genetic causes are being discovered for an increasing number of chronic illnesses and diseases, such as Huntington disease. ⋯ Recent advances in the pharmacogenomics of therapy for human immunodeficiency virus disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and malignant hyperthermia have indicated a genetic linkage; therefore treatments are targeted toward the genetic aspect of the abnormality. Critical care nurses need knowledge of these genetic conditions and of medications affected by genetic factors.
-
BACKGROUND Many hospitals have well-planned nursing competency assessment programs, but these are meant to measure competency in traditional bedside roles, not in tele-intensive care unit (tele-ICU) nurses practicing remotely. OBJECTIVE To determine whether current tele-ICU programs have a formal competency assessment program and to determine when and how competency of tele-ICU nurses is assessed. Method A 20-question survey was provided to a convenience sample of the 44 known tele-ICU programs nationally. ⋯ The most common methods for competency validation were performance appraisal and observation, although peer review and self-assessment also were used. Respondents identified the following competencies as the highest priorities for defining tele-ICU nurse practice: effective listening, prioritization, collaboration, and effective use of tele-ICU application tools. CONCLUSION Although awaiting development of professional practice standards, many tele-ICU programs currently measure the competence of tele-ICU nurses through competency programs.