Aust Crit Care
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The purpose of this research was to explore, describe and interpret the lived experience of graduate [junior] Registered Nurses who have participated in an in-hospital resuscitation event within the non-critical care environment. ⋯ Similarities are identifiable between the graduate nurses' experience and the experience of bystanders and other healthcare professional cohorts, such as the chaotic resuscitation environment, having too many or not enough participants involved in a resuscitation event, being publicly tested, having a decreased physical and emotional reaction with increased resuscitation exposure and having a lack of an opportunity to participate in debriefing sessions. Strategies should be implemented to provide non-critical care nurses with the confidence and competence to remain involved in the resuscitation process, firstly to provide support for less experienced staff and secondly to participate in the ongoing management of the patient. Additionally, the need for education to be contextualized and mimic the realities of a resuscitation event was emphasised.
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Patients often experience physical disability, neurocognitive and/or psychological impairment after surviving ICU. The burden arising from critical illness on patients, their families and health services may be substantial. Follow-up of these patients is important and ICU clinics have been introduced for this purpose. ⋯ Appropriate follow-up for survivors of intensive care and their family is important. However, evidence is limited on the benefit of ICU clinics for patients recovering from critical illness. Further research is needed to examine models that best meet patient needs after critical care.
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This paper describes the initial establishment of the Intensive Care Coordination and Monitoring Unit (ICCMU), and reports on the implementation of a state-based intensive care Listserv, ICUConnect, for staff in ICUs in New South Wales, Australia. The aim of the Listserv was to decrease professional isolation in smaller and less resourced ICUs by developing a network based on professional peer support. The Listserv was launched in December 2003 with 130 clinical nurse consultants and nurse managers. The emphasis was on exchange of both codified and experiential information. ⋯ The Listserv has created a beginning community of practice with ICCMU taking an active approach to knowledge management by facilitating exchange of information. The creation of ICCMU as a clinician-led resource has developed a structure that is ideally placed to act as a knowledge broker within a network of ICUs. A collaborative process to produce generic guidelines is now underway.