For nurses working in general practice or in emergency clinics, the acutely ill patient is commonplace. The needs and nursing input necessary varies enormously and these cases require frequent reassessment and treatment modification. The course aims to support the growing interest in this field by providing practical information which can be used in every day situations. It also aims to encourage different approaches to patient management as well as maintaining high standards of care. The course is to be delivered in the following manner:

• Informal lectures
• Practical demonstration
• Case study discussion

Who should attend:

The course is suitable for all student and qualified nurses who have a passion in this area of nursing. It is particularly suitable for qualified VNs who wish to develop their skills within this field.

What the course will help the attendees to do:

• Plan and manage an ICU to a high standard
• Consider, prepare and implement individual care plans
• Triage effectively in emergency situations
• Avoid common complications
• Deliver specialized patient care
• Improve communication and useful knowledge within the teams

Learning objectives  

By the end of this course delegates should have a thorough understanding of:

• What is required to run an ICU
• Key considerations to enable individualised care
• The different options available in analgesic and nutritional management
• The importance of the primary assessment and subsequent nursing concerns
• Basic and advanced CPR
• Options in vascular access techniques and IV management