Critical Care Nursing

Capnography has the unique ability to aid clinicians in assessing both ventilation and blood flow. In this program, a review of the physiology that allows exhaled CO2 to monitor ventilation and perfusion is presented. The emphasis in this program is using capnography to prevent over-sedation and monitoring of blood flow. Due to the ability to assess both ventilation and perfusion, capnography has been called the “15-second vital sign”. The use of capnography is likely to quickly grow throughout the hospital and even into pre-hospital settings. 

A tour through common and not-so-common infections of the nervous system, with a focus on clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes.

Contemporary approaches in healthcare simulation facilitate development or enhancement of clinical judgement, interprofessional practice and safe patient care. During this session, a range of simulation based education initiatives and applied pedagogy will be showcased. Reference to readily available, seminal resources will be provided. Opportunity for dialogue amongst participants and with the presenter may expand networks and lead to future collaborations.

This talk is focussed on abdominal-pelvic, or more specifically, junctional haemorrhage. It is all about bleeding that is too proximal for an extremity tourniquet but below the diaphragm. Pre-hospital (civilian), battlefield, and iatrogenic causes will be presented and discussed. Haemorrhage control strategies will be taught.

Prone positioning has been utilised to recruit alveoli to improve oxygenation while preventing complications of ventilator-induced lung injury in patients with ARDS for over 30 years.  Recently with new studies, the use of prone positioning is now considered front line therapy and utilisation of the technique has increased significantly since COVID 19.  With the mortality rate of the ARDS patient remaining at 40%, we need to implement evidence-based practices that work.  This session discusses the physiological mechanisms of the prone position for reducing lung trauma and improving oxygenation.  How a team can successfully build and implement a proning protocol is outlines.  An exploration of the evidence used to define the patient likely to respond to prone positioning, identify the appropriate time to initiate therapy, and time spent in the prone position are discussed.  Evidence-based strategies for turning and sustaining the patient in a prone position are outlined to ensure safety for the patient and healthcare worker.  As practitioners, we have the potential to influence patient outcomes through a safe non-invasive positioning technique. 

Practical evaluation and evidence-based management techniques for increased intracranial hypertension will be the focus of this lecture. Whether the neurologic system strikes fear in your heart or if you would describe yourself as a "neuro nerd", this lecture will have something for you! Pathophysiology of cerebral edema will lay the foundation for why increased intracranial pressure might occur. Building upon that groundwork, herniation syndromes, and exam findings will be reviewed, along with noninvasive exam techniques/technology which will enable early, bedside identification of increased intracranial pressure (IICP). Moving beyond a basic neurologic exam, advanced brain pressure, perfusion, and oxygenation technology will be described along with a review of guidelines to indicate the application of device implementation. With examination strategies reviewed, evidence-based practice guidelines will be utilized to support tier 1-5 intervention/management strategies. This information-filled lecture will leave the learner with the knowledge that can be applied at the bedside or support protocol development to enhance care outcomes in the malignant intracranial hypertensive patient.

The evidence on which we base decisions about nurse staffing in critical care units is sometimes not clear. The use of ratios (for example, nurse to patient ratio) is based on the assumption that patients with more organs failing require greater nursing resources. In the current climate, with increased demand on all health services, it is important to understand what impact any change in critical care nurse staffing might have on patients, family members, nurses, and the health service. 

This talk will highlight current advances in the pathophysiology of ICU delirium, including neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and dysregulation of circadian rhythms and HPA axis. Key pathophysiological mechanisms will be linked with current evidence-based recommendations for the assessment, prevention and treatment of ICU delirium, with emphasis on evidence on non-pharmacologic interventions. Data on epidemiology and approaches to improve long-term outcomes will be presented, and gaps in the literature and practice implications will be discussed. 

The current Covid-19 pandemic has challenged not only entire hospital systems but also thousands of healthcare providers who are increasingly grappling with mental health difficulties such as anxiety and distress.   This webinar aims to describe psychological challenges faced by health care providers, to provide a framework to understand these challenges and to provide practical insights and guidance to help optimize coping and enhance emotional functioning.

Evidence supports that we are in the midst of a significant nursing shortage and it is expected to worsen in the next ten years.  One of the noteworthy factors contributing to nurses exiting the profession is burnout and job dissatisfaction. This session will focus on outlining the ingredients necessary for nurturing the person and the nurse.  Skills regarding the ability to become an influencer to affect change within the workplace will be outlined. Each participant at the conclusion of the session will start creating a vitamin recipe for personal and professional success.  It is only when the caregiver’s needs are adequately addressed will they most effectively be able to help the patient and their families and feel good about being a nurse. Create your own vitamin recipe for personal and professional success.