Knowledge and skills of critical care nurses in assisting with intubation

Assisting with tracheal intubation is an aspect of clinical practice that requires knowledge and skill if the procedure is to be carried out in a timely and safe manner. Maintaining this knowledge and skill requires good quality education and regular opportunities to practise. These two factors appear to be inconsistent in critical care units. This article details an audit performed on a large tertiary referral centre critical care unit. It was undertaken in two phases: the first was a self-assessment of knowledge and the second was a practical assessment of the audit subjects in a simulated setting. Results indicated that formal training was inconsistent, as was the opportunity to assist with tracheal intubation. These factors may have contributed to the varying levels of skill seen in the practical assessment phase. The authors recommend devising a standardised training programme to address these issues, which could be distributed nationally. High standards need to be instilled early in critical care nurses' careers, with regular updates to maintain knowledge and skills.