title: Position statement on the role of health care assistants who are involved in direct patient care activities within critical care areas.
abstract: Intensive care has developed as a speciality since the 1950s, and during this time, there have been major technological advances in health care provision, leading to a rapid expansion of all areas of critical care. The ongoing problem in recruiting qualified nurses in general has affected, and continues to be a problem for, all aspects of critical care areas. During the past decade, nursing practice has evolved, as qualified nurses have expanded their own scope of practice to develop a more responsive approach to the complex care needs of the critically ill patient. The aim of this paper is to present the British Association of Critical Care Nurses (BACCN) position statement on the role of health care assistants involved in direct patient care activities, and to address some of the key work used to inform the development of the position statement.
authors.affiliation: Adult Intensive Care Unit, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashby
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bray
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leaver
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pilcher
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Plowright
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003422:Critical Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D006113:United Kingdom