Thread by @PMc276

@MichealMartinTD ICU nursing is care of the unconscious ventilated patient.

They are sedated, paralysed so they tolerate the endotracheal tube that is connected to their ventilator, which breathes for them

If that tube is dislodged, your patient becomes hypoxic (loses oxygen)

Could end up brain damaged or die

Your patient is unconscious, requires total nursing care, washing/turning/keeping warm or cold

They are attached to monitors, ecg leads, an oxygen probe (Sats) on a finger, an arterial line in a wrist for continuous blood pressure reading, a central line in their chest

They will have a urinary catheter, maybe peritoneal or renal dialysis

Maybe chest drains, or abdominal drains after surgery

They will need to be turned, Covid patients are nursed face down (prone), a team of staff required to turn the patient whilst minding all lines/tubes

You can’t go from one ICU to another in a different hospital without further training in the specific equipment that Unit uses, and deemed competent

Junior/NCHD’s couldn’t take the place of an icu nurse, neither could a ward or theatre nurse. We could work with an anaesthetist/intensivist to care for the patient, but not alone

Their work is too specialised

There is always care of the patients family to be taken into account, they will be so anxious

Also maybe palliative care or liaising with the chaplaincy team

Add in PPE, in a cubicle for 12hrs+ a day currently

Or care of the pregnant Covid patient, needing early c-section

@CovidWomenVoice