The challenge facing critical care nurses in the UK: a personal perspective

Wide-reaching professional, organisational and technological changes within healthcare have impacted on the role of the critical care nurse over the past decade. The major challenge to critical care nurses is to remain focused on providing quality care, optimistic about what can be achieved and realistic given the finite resources available. Suggestions as to how the future of critical care nursing may look are raised. Strategies to ensure that best practice and innovation continues within critical care are discussed, ensuring that patient and family needs remain a priority.