Critical Care Nursing

Critical Care Nursing in a Nutshell. Fast facts for the critical care nurse.

Critical care nursing is one of the most challenging nursing options available. It requires astute assessment skills, extremely specialized training, the ability to multitask, adaptability, top-notch communication skills, attention to detail while seeing the big picture, positive coping techniques, and numerous other traits. This guide is intended to help make practicing as a critical care nurse a little easier.

The guide is designed to work as an assistant. It includes guidelines for documentation, advance directives, organ donation, withdrawal of treatment, and palliative care. Basic assessment and procedural skills are detailed, along with more in-depth acute care practices, such as managing an intra-aortic balloon pump.

Aseptic technique, isolation precautions, IV therapy, central venous line and pulmonary artery catheter care, and continuous renal replacement therapy are explained in an easy-to-read manner. Applications pertaining to individual ICUs are also included.