Includes bibliographical references and index.

The critical care unit -- Levels of care -- The critical care environment -- Critical care patients -- Level 1 care -- Level 2 care -- Level 3 care -- Critical care competence -- The interprofessional team -- Communication -- Ways of working -- Understanding philosophies of care -- Humanising critical care -- Surviving critical care

"The education of student nurses in critical care is becoming an increasing challenge at this time of financial pressures in the National Health Service. The shortage of critical care nurses has encouraged many Intensive Care Units (ICUs) to employ newly qualified staff, highlighting the importance of preregistration education in ensuring that these staff are equipped with the skills to care for acutely ill patients. Significant numbers of critically ill patients are being managed outside specialist critical care facilities. It is therefore essential to ensure that graduating nurses are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to assess and manage critically ill patients, regardless of their location within the health care setting. Despite this, concerns have been raised that nurses lacked the skills and knowledge to recognize and manage these situations. It was subsequently recommended that student nurses should develop skills to identify and manage acutely ill patients. Despite this, concern still remains over the ability to recognize and manage deteriorating patients in both students (Cooper et al., 2010) and registered nurses (Cooper et al., 2011). Nursing education providers need to anticipate, plan and respond to these changing needs and expectations"-- Provided by publisher.