Talk:University of Canberra/Critical Care Nursing/Resources

How to contribute?
--Holly Northam 07:24, 22 February 2012 (UTC)
 * 1) Explore and read the material on the site and question...
 * 2) Is it correct?
 * 3) Can I improve it?
 * 4) What resources can I add that will help meet the information needs of patients,  families and other staff in critical care environments?

Did you really mean this? I really did! We have a really powerful role in making a difference in the outcomes experienced by patients and their families...but more than that we have a responsibility in advocating for change and improvement when evidence shows that there are better ways of doing things. An interesting recent example is an insightful critical care student recently shared with me her indignation at the waste she observes in the way we use resources in the critical care environment. She commented on the equipment, linen and and other material that is discarded without being used because it is placed in excess in rooms where patients with infectious conditions are being nursed. It is an important aspect of nursing care that contaminated material should not be returned for use in the ward, however, thoughtful stocking and judicious management of resources can reduce the cost of critical care whilst still maintaining excellence in patient care. Some innovative work in this area is being carried out by the Institute of Health Care []. A number of intiatives in other centres are also working to reduce the environmental impact of caring for patients with critical illness. The Austin is targeting their ICU staff with education and have provided facilities to sort waste []. Please let me know what other initiaves are around and consider what you can do personally to decease the waste in providing care.Holly Northam (talk) 00:32, 5 June 2012 (UTC)