O percurso para a excelência nos cuidados à pessoa em situação crítica

Abstract

This internship report is part of the Master's Degree in Nursing, with Specialization in Medical-Surgical Nursing regarding Patient in Critical Condition, of Institute of Health Sciences, of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa and aims to describe the experience throughout the internships. The final Internship and its report aim to obtain knowledge and skills in critically ill patients’ area to be able and acquire the title of nurse specialist and obtain a master’s degree. This Course Unit consists of two internships: one was carried out at the Pre-Hospital context, the second at an Intensive Care Unit. Both were carried out in 2022, from September 5th to December 17th. The methodology was descriptive and critical-reflective based on bibliographical research, in order to describe and justify the work accomplished to develop skills and knowledge. There's a concern to maintain a practice of excellence when looking after patients in critical conditions. This has led to carrying out some activities that promote the continuous improvement of the quality of care provided and the development of professional learning. In order to improve the communication when handling over a critically ill patient in the Emergency Room, a literature review was done to identify the factors influencing the communication when handling over, raising professional's awareness to improve communication, to improve and ensure security for the person in a critical condition. With the aim of improving the prevention and control of infection in the multipurpose intensive care unit, a literature review was done regarding best practices in oral hygiene for patients in mechanical ventilation in order to prevent ventilator-associated Pneumonia and concluded that it should be performed three times a day with manual brushing and 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate. New skills have been acquired regarding care management, the care of patients in critical conditions, communicating with their relatives, identifying and preventing outbreaks that lead to instability, pain management and infection prevention and control, promoting safety and quality of care. The objectives originally set, the activities carried out as well as the professional learning and the development and acquisition of competencies are intended to provide a practice of excellence in care and nursing contributing to an improvement in the quality of the same and basing the practice on evidence. During this course, some limitations emerged, such as inexperience in the search for scientific evidence and critical analysis – reflective of caring for the person in a critical situation.

Date of Award	31 May 2023
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Vasco Silva-Neves (Supervisor)