A arte de cuidar orientada à pessoa em situação crítica

Abstract

This report aims to reflect on the journey marked by the acquisition of skills that will enable the attainment of a master's degree and specialist qualification in critical care. The development of these skills was a rich, continuous, and dynamic process. However, it focuses on the journey undertaken during the internships of the Curricular Unit “Final Internship and Report” included in the Master's Degree in Nursing with Specialization in Medical-Surgical Nursing, in the area of Nursing for People in Critical Conditions at the School of Nursing (Porto) of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa. The internships took place from September 2 to November 23, 2024, in a Multipurpose Intensive Care Unit at a central hospital in the northern region of the country, and the second in a Multipurpose Emergency Department at a hospital in the north of the country, between January 2 and March 26, 2025. With this report, I intend to describe, in a structured and evidence-based manner, how the necessary skills were obtained to obtain a Master's Degree in Nursing with a Specialization in Medical-Surgical Nursing in the area of Critically Ill Person Nursing. In terms of methodology, this report is based on a critical and reflective analysis of the experiences gained throughout the internship, supported by the best scientific evidence, which resulted in a rich process of learning and acquiring new skills. Structurally, this report is divided into chapters that explain in a demonstrative way the paths taken and the activities developed at each internship location that ultimately led to the acquisition of the specific skills of a specialist nurse. Each chapter includes reflections on the experiences throughout the course, supported by appropriate theoretical literature. Using bibliographic research, work was also carried out that contributed to the acquisition of skills that support the attainment of a master's degree and specialist title in this area. Namely, a bibliographic review framed within the lexicon of continuous improvement in the quality of care, entitled “Transport of Persons in Critical Condition: a safe practice,” developed during the first internship, and later, a review of the literature that presupposes safe practice in the transmission of information, whether during shift changes or even in the transfer of care to other services or institutions, entitled ”The importance of communication in the transition of care to the Person in Critical Condition.” In short, the specialist nurse plays a crucial role in conducting intervention projects aimed at the continuous improvement of the quality of care. With technical skills and in-depth knowledge, they are able to lead initiatives involving clinical, organizational, and management dimensions, always with the goal of improving processes and ensuring the best care for the patient.

Date of Award	18 Jul 2025
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Irene Oliveira (Supervisor) & Vasco Silva-Neves (Co-Supervisor)