The National Competency Framework for Registered Nurses in Adult Critical Care: An overview.

In the years following the abolition of the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting in 2002, concerns were raised within the Critical Care nursing community about a lack of consistency in post-registration education programmes. In response to this, the Critical Care Network National Nurse Leads (CC3N) formed a sub-group, the Critical Care Nurse Education Review Forum (CCNERF) to address these concerns. A review of UK course provision confirmed marked inconsistency in the length, content and associated academic award. The CCNERF commenced a two-phase project, first developing national standards for critical care nurse education such as length of course and academic credit level, followed by the development of a national competency framework. Following significant review and revision, version two of the National Competency Framework for Registered Nurses in Adult Critical Care was published by CC3N in 2015. This paper introduces the National Competency Framework and provides an overview of its background, development and implementation. It then considers the future direction of UK post-registration Critical Care nurse education.

Re-building life after ICU: a qualitative study of the patients' perspective.

OBJECTIVE: To explore former ICU patients' views on what the key components of a post ICU rehabilitation programme should be. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: Thirty five participants completed an online questionnaire accessed via a link to the study from two support groups' websites. Adults (>18 years) who had been patients in ICU were invited to take part. Participants were asked open questions about their ICU experience and their views on ICU rehabilitation. Participants were: aged from 22 to 70 years; from the USA (22), the UK (8), Canada (2), Australia (1) and other (2); 30 female and five male. Findings were analysed using a thematic approach. FINDINGS: Three themes were identified: 'Information and education', 'Personal support' and 'Assessment and therapy'. Analysis suggested that for participants the aspects of rehabilitation covered by each of the themes were of equal importance. CONCLUSION: Healthcare professionals in ICU, acute ward and community settings need to be aware of the broad array of physical and psychological challenges faced by patients who have been critically ill. Healthcare professionals need to ensure a holistic approach is implemented to coordinate and facilitate rehabilitation, to address identified patients' needs.