Unit orientation is required before assuming responsibility for patient care

 Unit orientation is required before assuming responsibility for patient care.  Nurse-to-patient ratios should be based on patient acuity according to written hospital policies.

CRITICAL CARE UNIT NURSING REQUIREMENTS  All critical care nurses must participate in continuing education.  An appropriate number of nurses should be trained in highly specialized techniques such as renal replacement therapy, intra-aortic balloon pump monitoring, and intracranial pressure monitoring.  All nurses should be familiar with the indications for and complications of renal replacement therapy.

KEY INTELLECTUAL TRAITS IN CRITICAL THINKING  Intellectual humility  Intellectual integrity  Intellectual courage  Intellectual empathy Paul 1995 in Jones & Bartlett Learning “The essence of nursing: knowledge and Caring.(chapter 2)

IMPACT ON KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION  Critical Thinking,  Reflective Thinking,  Intuition, and  Clinical Thinking and Judgment

INTENSIVE CARE UNIT  An ICU may be designed and equipped to provide care to patients with a range of conditions, to provide specialized care to patients with specific conditions  It includes patient monitoring, respiratory and cardiac support, pain management, emergency resuscitation devices, and other life support equipment designed to care for patients who are seriously injured, have a critical or life-threatening illness, or have undergone a major surgical procedure, thereby requiring 24-hour care and monitoring.