Moving and handling procedures
Definitions The risks associated with manual handling have been recognised by the Ambulance Service Association and the Health and Safety Executive who state: ‘Any work activity that involves lifting, pushing,…
Spinal management
Relevant gross anatomy Please also refer to an appropriate anatomy textbook (see reference 3). The spinal cord is approximately 42–45 cm in length and extends from the foramen magnum to…
Defibrillation
Definition of defibrillation Defibrillation is the only effective therapy for cardiac arrest caused by ventricular fibrillation and can be defined as an attempt to depolarise a critical mass of the…
Neurological observations and examination techniques
Definitions Neurological observations are those investigations and examination that relate to the assessment of the nervous system. These commonly focus upon six key areas: Level of consciousness Pupillary activity Motor…
Drug administration
Definitions The definition of a drug is complex and depends to a certain extent upon who is being asked to define the term. In medicine, the World Health Organization suggest…
Documentation and record keeping
Definitions The Data Protection Act 19981 defines a health record as: ‘any information relating to the physical or mental health or condition of an individual that has been made by…
History taking and communication
Definitions History taking is the process of gaining a patient’s account of their illness or injury and the eliciting of further information that is required to lead to a diagnosis,…
Respiratory Failure and Intensive Measures
Acute Respiratory Failure and Intensive Measures Barbara A. McLean, MN, RN, CCRN, CCNS, NP-BC, FCCM * Division of Critical Care, Grady Memorial Hospital, Emory University, 80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive…
Advanced Modes of Mechanical Ventilation
Understanding Advanced Modes of Mechanical Ventilation Shannon Johnson Bortolotto, RN, MS, CCNS a,*, Mary Beth Flynn Makic, RN, PhD, CNS, CCNS, CCRN a,b a Critical Care, University of Colorado Hospital,…
Knowledge of Acute Lung Injury and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Current Knowledge of Acute Lung Injury and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Ronald E. Dechert, DPH, MS, RRT a,*, Carl F. Haas, MLS, RRT b, Waseem Ostwani, MD c a Department…
