Developing a Tool to Improve Critical Care Nurses' Access to High-Risk, Low-Volume Resources

Area of Science:

• Nursing Practice
• Patient Safety
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Critical care nursing involves increasingly complex procedures.
• Nurses perform more high-risk, low-volume (HRLV) procedures, potentially increasing patient risk.
• A need exists for improved management of HRLV scenarios in intensive care units (ICUs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an educational resource for critical care nurses.
• To enhance the management of HRLV scenarios in ICUs.
• To improve overall nursing practice and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A literature search identified relevant studies on HRLV procedures and nurse competency.
• A printed resource packet was created, including summaries, checklists, and QR codes to facility policies.
• Nurses completed an 8-question survey to evaluate the resource's impact.

Main Results:

• 100% of surveyed nurses found the resource relevant.
• Nurses reported increased knowledge, time savings, and improved access to policies.
• The resource was rated as "very helpful" (mean score of 9.09 out of 10).

Conclusions:

• The resource packet is effective for managing HRLV scenarios and training new nurses.
• It is easily implemented, adaptable to various units, and provides bedside access to best practices.
• The resource serves as a valuable tool to bridge best practice information to clinical practice.