The tried, true, and new: a traditional approach to critical care education with a new twist.
The training of a new critical care nurse is not solely the transmission of a determined body of knowledge or skill set. When one begins to consider what actually makes a critical care nurse a critical care nurse, one realizes that the training is much more complex. It involves the teaching of appropriate thought processes, and use of the body of knowledge and/or skill set in application with respect to a specific patient, disease state, or a group of symptoms. Teaching a new critical care nurse to think, talk, act, and respond like a critical care nurse is just as important as sharing knowledge--that is what makes a critical care nurse. This article summarizes one hospital's critical care training program and orientation for new critical care nurses with and without critical care experience. This is done in pursuit of excellence in patient care, by providing a comprehensive and complete, full-service training program. All nurses deserve the very best education and training-our patients demand it.
Nolan
Scot
S
Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego, CA 92103-2180, USA. Nolan.Scot@Scrippshealth.org
Murphy
Janet
J
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003422:Critical Care; D003479:Curriculum; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D019359:Knowledge; D008611:Mentors / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009736:Nursing Process; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010379:Peer Group; D011231:Preceptorship / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D013850:Thinking