Critical Care Skills Checklist

This profile is for use by Critical Care nurses with more than one year's experience in their discipline and specialty.

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Please indicate your level of experience
A. Theory, no practice C. One - two years experience
B. Intermittent experience D. Two plus years experience

A. CARDIOVASCULAR
  1. Assessment
    a. Abnormal heart sounds/murmurs A B C D
    b. Auscultation (rate, rhythm) A B C D
    c. Blood pressure/non-invasive A B C D
    d. Doppler A B C D
    e. Pulses/circulation checks A B C D
  2. Interpretation of lab results
    a. Cardiac enzymes & isoenzymes A B C D
    b. Coagulation studies A B C D
  3. Equipment & procedures
    a. Assist with
      (1) Arterial line insertion A B C D
      (2) Central line insertion A B C D
      (3) Open chest emergency A B C D
      (4) PA catheter/Swan-Ganz insertion A B C D
      (5) Pericardiocentesis A B C D
      (6) Transesophageal echocardiogram A B C D
    b. Automatic internal cardioverter defibrillator A B C D
    c. Cardioversion A B C D
    d. CAVH-D A B C D
    e. Hemodynamic monitoring
      (1) Cardiac index A B C D
      (2) Cardiac output A B C D
      (3) CVP monitoring A B C D
      (4) Femoral artery sheath removal A B C D
      (5) MAP A B C D
      (6) PA/Swan-Ganz A B C D
      (7) PCW pressure A B C D
      (8) PVR A B C D
      (9) Radial a-line A B C D
      (10) SVO2 A B C D
      (11) SVR A B C D
    f. Intra aortic balloon pump A B C D
    g. Monitoring
      (1) 12 lead EKG interpretation A B C D
      (2) Arrhythmia interpretation A B C D
      (3) Lead placement A B C D
      (4) Rhythm strip assessment A B C D
      (5) Set up and run 12 lead EKG A B C D
    h. Pacemaker
      (1) External A B C D
      (2) Permanent A B C D
      (3) Temporary A B C D
      (4) Transthoracic (epicardial) A B C D
    i. Ventricular assist device (RVAD or LVAD) A B C D
  4. Care of the patient with:
    a. Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair A B C D
    b. Acute MI A B C D
    c. Cardiac arrest A B C D
    d. Cardiac tamponade A B C D
    e. Congestive heart failure (CHF) A B C D
    f. EP study & ablation A B C D
    g. Heart transplant A B C D
    h. Immediate post open-heart surgery A B C D
    i. Infective endocarditis A B C D
    j. Myocardial contusion A B C D
    k. Pericarditis A B C D
    l. Post AICD insertion A B C D
    m. Post arthrectomy (DCA) A B C D
    n. Post commissurotomy, valve repair,  
      valve replacement A B C D
    o. Post intracoronary stent placement A B C D
    p. Post percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty A B C D
    q. Post rotoblade A B C D
    r. Pre/post angioplasty A B C D
    s. Pre/post cardiac cath A B C D
  5. Medications
    a. Amiodarone (Cardarone) A B C D
    b. Atropine A B C D
    c. Bicarbonate A B C D
    d. Bretylium (Bretylol) A B C D
    e. Digoxin (Lanoxin) A B C D
    f. Diltiazem (Cardizem) A B C D
    g. Dobutamine (Dobutrex) A B C D
    h. Dopamine (Intropin) A B C D
    i. Epinephrine (Adrenalin) A B C D
    j. Esmolol (Brevibloc) A B C D
    k. Inocor (Amrinone) A B C D
    l. Lidocaine (Xylocaine) A B C D
    m. Metoprolol (Lopressor) A B C D
    n. Nipride (Nitroprusside) A B C D
    o. Nitroglycerine (Tridil) A B C D
    p. Procainamide (Pronestyl) A B C D
    q. Reteplase recombinant (Retavase) A B C D
    r. Streptokinase A B C D
    s. TPA (Alteplase) A B C D
    t. Verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan) A B C D
B. PULMONARY
  1. Assessment
    a. Adventitious breath sounds A B C D
    b. Rate and work of breathing A B C D
  2. Interpretation of lab results - arterial blood gases A B C D
  3. Equipment & procedures
    a. Air leak troubleshooting
      (1) Mediastinal chest tube removal A B C D
      (2) Pleural chest tube removal A B C D
    b. Airway management devices/suctioning
      (1) Endotracheal tube/suctioning A B C D
      (2) Extubation A B C D
      (3) Nasal airway/suctioning A B C D
      (4) Oximetry A B C D
      (5) Sputum specimen collection A B C D
      (6) Tracheostomy/suctioning A B C D
    c. Assist with
      (1) Bronchoscopy A B C D
      (2) Chest tube insertion A B C D
      (3) Emergency tracheostomy A B C D
      (4) Thoracentesis A B C D
    d. Establishing an airway
      (1) Assist with intubation A B C D
      (2) Oral airway insertion A B C D
    e. Identification/intervention for respiratory complications
      (1) Aspiration A B C D
      (2) Laryngospasm A B C D
      (3) Tension pneumothorax A B C D
      (4) Use of Pleurevac or Thoraclex drainage A B C D
      (5) Use of water seal drainage A B C D
    f. O2 therapy & medication delivery systems  
      (1) Ambu bag and mask A B C D
      (2) ET tube A B C D
      (3) Face masks A B C D
      (4) Nasal cannula A B C D
      (5) Portable O2 tank A B C D
      (6) Trach collar A B C D
    g. Ventilator management
      (1) External CPAP A B C D
      (2) High frequency jet ventilation A B C D
      (3) IMV A B C D
      (4) PEEP A B C D
      (5) Pressure support A B C D
      (6) Weaning modes & T-piece weaning A B C D
  4. Care of the patient with:
    a. Acute pneumonia A B C D
    b. ARDS A B C D
    c. Chest trauma A B C D
    d. COPD A B C D
    e. Cor pulmonale A B C D
    f. Fresh tracheostomy A B C D
    g. Lobectomy A B C D
    h. Lung transplant A B C D
    i. Near drowning A B C D
    j. Pneumonectomy A B C D
    k. Pulmonary edema/hypertension A B C D
    l. Pulmonary embolism A B C D
    m. Status asthmaticus A B C D
    n. Thoracotomy A B C D
    o. Tuberculosis A B C D
  5. Medications
    a. Alupent (Metaproterenol) A B C D
    b. Aminophylline (Theophylline) A B C D
    c. Bronkosol (Isoetharine hydrochloride) A B C D
    d. Corticosteroids A B C D
    e. Ventolin (Albuterol) A B C D
C. NEUROLOGICAL
  1. Assessment
    a. Cranial nerves A B C D
    b. Glasgow coma scale A B C D
    c. Level of consciousness A B C D
    d. Pathologic reflexes A B C D
    e. Reflex/motor deficits A B C D
    f. Visual or communication deficits A B C D
  2. Equipment & procedures
    a. Assist with lumbar puncture A B C D
    b. Halo traction/cervical tongs A B C D
    c. Intracranial pressure monitoring A B C D
    d. Nerve stimulators A B C D
    e. Rotating bed A B C D
    f. Seizure precautions A B C D
    g. Spinal precautions A B C D
    h. Stryker frame A B C D
    i. Use of hyper/hypothermia blanket A B C D
  3. Care of the patient with:
    a. Aneurysm precautions A B C D
    b. Basal skull fracture A B C D
    c. Closed head injury A B C D
    d. Coma A B C D
    e. CVA A B C D
    f. DTs A B C D
    g. Encephalitis A B C D
    h. Externalized VP shunts A B C D
    i. Increased ICP A B C D
    j. Laminectomy A B C D
    k. Meningitis A B C D
    l. Metastatic tumor/intracranial tumor resection A B C D
    m. Multiple sclerosis A B C D
    n. Post craniotomy A B C D
    o. Spinal cord injury A B C D
    p. Ventriculostomy A B C D
  4. Medications
    a. Barbiturate induced coma A B C D
    b. Decadron (Dexamethasone) A B C D
    c. Dilantin (Phenytoin) A B C D
    d. Epidural administration A B C D
    e. Phenobarbital A B C D
    f. Valium (Diazepam) A B C D
         
D. GASTROINTESTINAL
  1. Assessment
    a. Abdominal/bowel sounds A B C D
    b. Nutritional A B C D
  2. Interpretation of lab results
    a. Serum ammonia A B C D
    b. Serum amylase A B C D
    c. LFTs A B C D
  3. Equipment & procedures
    a. Administration of tube feeding A B C D
    b. Balloon tamponade (Sengstaken Blakemore) A B C D
    c. Feeding pump A B C D
    d. Flexible feeding tube (i.e. - Corpak - Dobhoff) A B C D
    e. Gravity feeding A B C D
    f. Iced saline lavage A B C D
    g. Management of
      (1) Gastrostomy tube A B C D
      (2) Jejunostomy tube A B C D
      (3) T-tube A B C D
      (4) TPN and lipids administration A B C D
      (5) PPN (peripheral parenteral nutrition) A B C D
    h. Placement of nasogastric tube A B C D
    i. Salem sump to suction A B C D
  4. Care of the patient with:
    a. Blunt trauma A B C D
    b. Bowel obstruction A B C D
    c. Colostomy A B C D
    d. ERCP A B C D
    e. Esophageal bleeding A B C D
    f. GI bleeding A B C D
    g. GI surgery A B C D
    h. Hepatitis A B C D
    i. Ileostomy A B C D
    j. Inflammatory bowel disease A B C D
    k. Liver failure A B C D
    l. Liver transplant A B C D
    m. Pancreatitis A B C D
    n. Paralytic ileus A B C D
    o. Penetrating trauma A B C D
  5. Medications
    a. AquaMephyton (Vitamin K) A B C D
    b. Inderal (Propranolol) A B C D
    c. Kayexelate A B C D
    d. Lactulose (Cephulac) A B C D
    e. Pitressin (Vasopressin) A B C D
E. RENAL/GENITOURINARY
  1. Assessment
    a. A-V fistula/shunt A B C D
    b. Fluid status A B C D
  2. Interpretation of lab results
    a. BUN & creatinine A B C D
    b. Serum electrolytes A B C D
  3. Equipment & procedures
    a. Bladder irrigation A B C D
    b. Insertion & care of straight and Foley catheter
      (1) 3-way Foley A B C D
      (2) Female A B C D
      (3) Male A B C D
    c. Supra-pubic A B C D
  4. Care of the patient with:
    a. Acute renal failure A B C D
    b. CAVH dialysis A B C D
    c. Hemodialysis A B C D
    d. Nephrectomy A B C D
    e. Peritoneal dialysis A B C D
    f. Renal rejection syndrome A B C D
    g. Renal transplant A B C D
    h. TURP A B C D
    i. Urinary diversion (ileal conduit nephrostomy) A B C D
    j. Urinary tract infection A B C D
F. ENDOCRINE/METABOLIC
  1. Interpretation of lab results
    a. Blood glucose A B C D
    b. Thyroid studies A B C D
  2. Equipment & procedures
    a. Blood glucose measuring device: type  
    b. Blood glucose monitoring A B C D
    c. Performing finger stick A B C D
  3. Care of the patient with:
    a. Diabetes mellitus A B C D
    b. Diabetic ketoacidosis A B C D
    c. Disorders of adrenal gland (e.g. - Addisons disease) A B C D
    d. Disorders of pituitary gland (e.g. - DI) A B C D
    e. Drug overdose A B C D
    f. Hyperthyroidism (Graves disease) A B C D
    g. Hypothyroidism A B C D
    h. Insulin shock A B C D
    i. Thyroidectomy - disorders of thyroid gland A B C D
    4. Medication - insulin pump A B C D
G. WOUND MANAGEMENT
  1. Wound Management Assessment
    a. Skin for impending breakdown A B C D
    b. Stasis ulcers A B C D
    c. Surgical wound healing A B C D
  2. Wound Management Equipment & procedures
    a. Air fluidized, low airloss beds A B C D
    b. Sterile dressing changes A B C D
    c. Wound care/irrigations A B C D
  3. Care of the patient with (Wound Management):
    a. Burns A B C D
    b. Pressure sores A B C D
    c. Staged decubitus ulcers A B C D
    d. Surgical wounds with drain(s) A B C D
    e. Traumatic wounds A B C D
H. PHLEBOTOMY/IV THERAPY
  1. Equipment & procedures
    a. Administration of blood/blood products
      (1) Cryoprecipitate A B C D
      (2) Packed red blood cells A B C D
      (3) Plasma/albumin A B C D
      (4) Whole blood A B C D
    b. Drawing blood from central line A B C D
    c. Drawing venous blood A B C D
    d. Starting IVs
      (1) Angiocath A B C D
      (2) Butterfly A B C D
      (3) Heparin lock A B C D
  2. Care of the patient with:
    a. Central line/catheter/dressing -
      (1) Broviac A B C D
      (2) Groshong A B C D
      (3) Hickman A B C D
      (4) Portacath A B C D
      (5) Quinton A B C D
    b. Peripheral line/dressing A B C D
I.PAIN MANAGEMENT
  1. Assessment of pain level/tolerance A B C D
  2. Care of the patient with:
    a. Epidural anesthesia/analgesia A B C D
    b. IV conscious sedation A B C D
    c. Patient controlled analgesia A B C D
J. MISCELLANEOUS
  1. Care of the patient with:
    a. Anaphylactic shock A B C D
    b. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) A B C D
    c. Hypovolemic shock A B C D
    d. Multi-system organ failure A B C D
    e. Organ/tissue donation A B C D
    f. Septic shock A B C D

AGE SPECIFIC PRACTICE CRITERIA
Please check the boxes below for each age group for which you have expertise in providing age-appropriate nursing care.

A. Newborn/Neonate (birth - 30 days)
F. Adolescents (12 - 18 years)
B. Infant (30 days - 1 year) G. Young adults (18 - 39 years)
C. Toddler (1 - 3 years) H. Middle adults (39 - 64 years)
D. Preschooler (3 - 5 years) I. Older adults (64+)
E. School age children (5 - 12 years)  


EXPERIENCE WITH AGE GROUPS: A B C D E F G H I
Able to adapt care to incorporate normal growth and development.
Able to adapt method and terminology of patient instructions to their age, comprehension and maturity level.
Can ensure a safe environment reflecting specific needs of various age groups.


My experience is primarily in: (Please indicate number of years.)
Medical year(s) Coronary care year(s)
Surgical year(s) Neuro year(s)
Trauma year(s) Burn year(s)
Cardiothoracic year(s) PACU year(s)
Cardiovascular year(s)    
Other (specify) year(s)

Certification: (mo/day/yr)
Arrhythmia course date:        
Critical care course date:      
Computerized charting system:
Medication administration system:
ACLS Exp. date:      
BCLS Exp. date:      
BTLS Exp. date:      
CCRN Exp. date:      
CNRN Exp. date:      
TNCC Exp. date:      
Other (type): Exp. date:
 

The information I have given is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I hereby authorize Berean Healthcare Staffing to release this Critical Care Skills Checklist to Client facilities of Berean Healthcare Staffing in relation to consideration of my employment with those facilities.



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