Meaning
Advanced and highly specialized care provided to medical or surgical patients whose conditions are life threatening and require comprehensive care and constant monitoring, usually administered in specially equipped units of a healthcare facility
Critical care unit
Critical care unit is defined as the unit in which comprehensive care of a critically ill patient who is deemed recoverable is carried out.
Nursing assessment- History and physical assessment
History
Chief complaint
What PATIENT says problem is & Not necessarily what you see A M P L E history collection
A = Allergies
M = Medications
P = Past medical history
L= Last oral intake
E = Events leading up to incident
Physical examination
Neurological assessment
- LOC - Glasgow Coma Scale
- Pupillary reaction and reflexes
- Cranial nerve assessment
- Motor function
- Sensory function
- Reflexes
- Brain stem function
CVS assessment
- HR
- Pulses
- Heart sound
- CVP
- Cyanosis
- Heat /cold extremities
- Edema
Respiratory assessment
- Respirations
- Breath sound
- Adventitious sounds
- artificial airway
- Oxygenation/ ventilation
- Chest drainage
- Chest radiographs
Gastro intestinal assessment
- Bowel sound
- Abdomen
- Bowel elimination
- Nasogastric tube
- Drains
- Incisions and stomas
Genitourinary assessment
- Fluid status
- Bladder
- Urine
- Genitals
COMMENTS