Elements and Performance Criteria
- Apply theoretical concepts and principles in development of a nursing care plan
- Work with an understanding of the pathophysiology of presenting/underlying critical care condition
- Address common nursing needs associated with clients in the critical care environment
- Initiate holistic health assessment and collect accurate client information in accordance with health unit policy
- Evaluate and interpret the client's nursing care needs and communicate to the health care team
- Use a range of assessment tools relevant to client health care requirements
- Identify significant alterations in client health status
- Ascertain possible factor(s) impacting on client health status
- Clarify the knowledge of client (and/or identified significant other/s) regarding client condition, self management and individual treatment regime
- Work with an understanding of the psychosocial needs of clients in critical care environment
- Contribute to multi-disciplinary health care team in caring for clients in the critical care environment
- Interact appropriately with emergency service personnel, referring agencies and other hospital department staff
- Work with an understanding of the role of specialist nursing and medical services in the care of clients in the critical care environment
- Collaborate with multi-disciplinary team in partnership with the client (and identified significant other/s with client consent), to maintain continuity of care
- Identify factors relevant to client situation, giving consideration to the physical, psychological, social and economic impacts
- Review data collected and communicate to relevant members of the health care team
- Plan nursing care in consultation/collaboration with the health care team
- Ensure nursing care plan reflects specific critical care requirements in accordance with health unit policy
- Ensure care plan reflects client's current nursing needs and nursing actions designed to maximise their physical function and minimise potential complications
- Apply understanding of risk management principles in planning client care
- Ensure planned care and therapeutic interventions aim to assist client/s to achieve optimal health outcomes
- Identify client requirements for health promotion and education aspects of the nursing care plan in conjunction with client and significant other/s
- Regularly review plan of care and modify to reflect changes in client condition
- Perform complex nursing interventions to assist clients in critical care to attain and maintain optimal health
- Prioritise nursing interventions according to client needs
- Modify nursing interventions using critical thinking and problem solving approaches, to reflect changes in client condition
- Perform nursing interventions, including health promotion and/or education, to assist clients and significant other/s to achieve expected outcomes
- Monitor nursing interventions, review those that fail to address client needs and revise in consultation/collaboration with the health care team
- Ensure appropriate pre-, intra- and post-diagnostic procedures are undertaken in line with organisation policies and procedures
- Ensure medication administration is based on sound knowledge of principles of drug actions and side effects in accordance with health unit policies and procedures
- Recognise the rights and responsibilities of the critical care client
- Act as an advocate for the client and their family.
- Respect individual culture and religious practice for the critical care client
- Evaluate effectiveness of nursing interventions and planned care for clients in critical care
- Evaluate responses of client and identified significant other/s to nursing interventions, and modify and document in accordance with health unit policy
- Ensure client, and significant other/s where indicated, are aware of community resources available to them and how to access them
- Assess client understanding of their condition, medications and therapeutic regimes prior to discharge
- Evaluate client acceptance of specific health promotion initiatives prior to discharge
- Assess and review understanding of identified significant other/s in relation to current condition of client and their ongoing management
- Document responses to planned nursing actions
- Recognise the legal and ethical issues involved in aged care practice