Ch 66 - E1 - Critical Care
What is the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) definition of critical care? -
specialty dealing with human responses to life-threatening problems
Who does critical care nurses care for? -
1. patients with acute & unstable physiologic problems
2. their caregivers
What do critical care nurses do? -
1. assess life-threatening situations
2. initiate interventions
3. evaluate outcomes of interventions
What's another name ofr critical care units? -
intensive care units (ICUs)
Who needs ICUs? -
acutely/critically ill patients
Waht is an electronic or virtual ICU? -
1. assists bedside ICU team
2. monitors patient from a remote location
What are rapid response teams ? who's on them? -
1. critical care nurse
2. respiratory therapist
3. critical care physician or advanced practice nurse
4. bring rapid response to noncritical care units
When do patients start to show signs before cardiac and/or respiratory arrest? What are some examples
of the signs?- -
1. 6-8 hours before
2. confusion
3. tachycardia
Things that can be continuously monitored -
1. ECG
2. BP
3. O2 saturation
4. CO
5. ICP
6. temperature
More advanced monitoring devices are -
1. Cardiac Index
What is the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) definition of critical care? -
specialty dealing with human responses to life-threatening problems
Who does critical care nurses care for? -
1. patients with acute & unstable physiologic problems
2. their caregivers
What do critical care nurses do? -
1. assess life-threatening situations
2. initiate interventions
3. evaluate outcomes of interventions
What's another name ofr critical care units? -
intensive care units (ICUs)
Who needs ICUs? -
acutely/critically ill patients
Waht is an electronic or virtual ICU? -
1. assists bedside ICU team
2. monitors patient from a remote location
What are rapid response teams ? who's on them? -
1. critical care nurse
2. respiratory therapist
3. critical care physician or advanced practice nurse
4. bring rapid response to noncritical care units
When do patients start to show signs before cardiac and/or respiratory arrest? What are some examples
of the signs?- -
1. 6-8 hours before
2. confusion
3. tachycardia
Things that can be continuously monitored -
1. ECG
2. BP
3. O2 saturation
4. CO
5. ICP
6. temperature
More advanced monitoring devices are -
1. Cardiac Index
