Intracranial pressure monitoring: a study of nursing practice

Differences exist within neurological centres with regard to the care of the patient with an ICP monitoring device in place. A survey carried out to identify these differences shows that head injury remains the most common diagnosis associated with ICP monitoring and intraventricular catheters the most popular method, although the use of catheter tip pressure transducers appeared to be on the increase. Some centres used more than one method. The type of machinery used to process the data varied enormously. Written guidelines or standards existed in only a few centres and none of these fully covered every aspect of care as quoted in the literature. Many units appeared to rely on in-service or one to one teaching situations with new or learner staff being supervised initially. Some centres restricted the type of nurse who was permitted to care for these patients. Unfortunately, the restrictions were not clearly identified. Calibration of equipment was not considered a nursing procedure but some respondents felt that it should be.