Developing good communication skills: the key to working in intensive care

While interviewing for my current role as a nurse in intensive care I was asked questions such as ‘What are the most important qualities of good teamwork?’, ‘How do you handle conflict?’ and ‘How do...

The experiences of parents witnessing their child's resuscitation in hospital

The formulation of a robust question proves essential for a successful literature review (Cronin et al, 2008). Therefore, the population, exposure, and outcome (PEO) tool was used to develop the...

The diagnosis and management of acute hyponatraemia in critical care

The recognised normal range for serum sodium concentration (SNa) in adults is accepted as 135-145 millimoles per litre (mmol/litre). Hyponatraemia is more commonly an excess of total body water rather...

Advanced airway management and drug-assisted intubation skills in an advanced critical care practitioner team

The ACCP team has developed over an 8-year period within a conglomerate of three district general hospitals (Heartlands, Goodhope and Solihull hospitals, HGS) comprising 26 critical care beds. The...

Factors associated with the frequency of respiratory rate measurement by hospital nurses: a multicentre cross-sectional study

This study detected five independent factors associated with the frequency of RR measurement by the nurses. The perception of importance (item 2) and educational experiences (item 18) were positively...

Evaluating a psychological support service focused on the needs of critical care and theatres staff in the first wave of COVID-19

Research from previous pandemics has shown that working with additional pressures has both a physical and psychological impact on healthcare workers. For example, about 10% of those working in health...

Estimating the time point for nutritional failure in patients suffering from acute brain attacks in the intensive care unit

This study aimed to estimate the time point where the development of nutritional failure and feeding-related complications are more likely among critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients...

Reflecting on redeployment

The role of single-use ECG leads in reducing healthcare-associated infections

In the clinical setting, monitoring a patient's ECG rhythm requires a minimum of three electrodes (Figure 1), which are connected to colour-coded leads to aid identification, and these are usually...

The global mental health burden of COVID-19 on critical care staff

The authors started by asking the participants a few general questions around their wellbeing and anxieties (Table 2). The feeling of support from the general public was strong, with 74% of...

Service evaluation of the bereavement care delivered in a UK intensive care unit

The main aim was to evaluate the service delivery of the bereavement care that is provided in a 20-bed general ICU. In addition, the study aimed to explore the experience of bereavement care currently...

Delirium in adult patients in intensive care: nursing interventions

Identify possible nursing interventions that can be taken to prevent or manage delirium in adult patients in ICU..