O papel do enfermeiro especialista na segurança da pessoa em situação crítica

Abstract

This report describes the academic path towards the development of competencies during the 15th master’s in nursing, with a Specialization in Medical-Surgical Nursing, in the field of Nursing Care of the Critically Ill, in the Institute of Health Sciences-Porto, from Universidade Católica Portuguesa. This report was developed within the context of the Curricular Unit “Final Internship and Report”, that included two internships that took place in an Accident and Emergency Department and an Infection Prevention and Control and Antimicrobial Stewardship Local Unit. Based on a descriptive and reflective critic analysis methodology, and grounded with scientific evidence, this report describes the development of several activities based on a set of defined objectives that ultimately allowed the development of competencies for the Specialty of Medical-Surgical Nursing, in the field of Nursing Care of the Critically Ill. The structure of this report is divided in 4 domains of the Common Competencies for the Specialist Nurse. Throughout this course, the activities and work that was developed was mainly focused on patient safety, because it’s considered that one of the specialist nurse roles is to promote the adherence to safe practices. In the Accident and Emergency Department, the work that was developed was named “The safety of the patient with chest drain an Accident and Emergency Department”. In this work, it can be highlighted the development of a “Safety Procedural Checklist for Chest Drain Insertion” and two troubleshooting flowcharts, a “Troubleshooting flowchart for the drain that is swinging or not swinging” and a “Troubleshooting flowchart for the drain that is bubbling or not bubbling”. These tools are in the process of being implemented in the department and were useful for the development of competencies regarding risk management, promotion of a safety environment and continuous quality improvement programs. In the Infection Prevention and Control and Antimicrobial Stewardship Local Unit, the work developed within a quality improvement project was called “Safety within antimicrobial management – the nurse’s role on intravenous preparation and administration”. This work provided evidence and contributed for the data collection of a study that will be finished by the nurse who mentored during this internship. During the internship, it can also be highlighted the development of a literature review called “The Intensive Care Nurse’s Role in Antimicrobial Stewardship”. Both these works emphasized a field were nurses need to be more involved in, by improving their roles. The literature review also provided a systematization of the nursing interventions in the intensive care unit, that can be a contribution for antimicrobial stewardship programs. Nowadays, nursing care is increasingly becoming more specialized and differentiated. Because of that, it’s fundamental that nurses develop an evidence-based practice and use their practice towards the development of new knowledge. This report shows the journey towards a professional and personal growth, that happened throughout this master’s degree, with the aim of developing specialized competencies.

Date of Award	23 May 2023
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Sílvia Patrícia Fernandes Coelho (Supervisor)