Concept: Creating environment which arms the critical care nurse with all patient data, audio/video capabilities and evidence-based resources to intervene in care decision and be resource to the bedside clinician
Design: Experienced multidisciplinary critical care nurses work part-time in the AICU and part-time in their home unit. Audio/Video capabilities, electronic records, x-rays, ECG, laboratory values, transcriptions, orders, medication list and evidence-based decision support sites are accessible from the workstation.
Methods: The AICU nurse's expertise to interpret all patient data allows for the collaboration with the bedside team to effectively treat patients promptly. Audio/Video gives access to patient's, families to complete forms, give updates, educate and answer question. Creating events to continuously search the database for patients with potential problems alerts the AICU nurse early providing a proactive intervention to prevent future complications. Working side by side with the Intensivist the AICU staff is able to hear report, assess, document and intervene at anytime for any patient in our network.
Results: The AICU staff finds this work to be challenging. Their years of experienced combined the constant review of the newest evidence brings best practice to all the critical care bedside. They are resources for novice and experienced staff. They assist with procedures and troubleshooting for the bedside staff. They teach, they research, and they intervene. Their practice is the result of best evidence and they practice best evidence. This is truly a shining example of how one hospital turned research into practice and how one nursing staff can effectively bring best practice to over 10 critical care units. We are spreading the excellence.
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