Page 786 - ACCCN's Critical Care Nursing

APPENDIX A1 I. Preamble
DECLARATION OF MADRID: Critical or intensive care is a complex specialty developed
EDUCATION to serve the diverse healthcare needs of patients (and
their families) with actual or potential life-threatening
POSITION STATEMENT ON THE PROVISION OF conditions.
CRITICAL CARE NURSING EDUCATION – The role of the critical care nurse is essential to the
AUGUST 2005 multidisciplinary team needed to provide specialist
Introduction knowledge and skill when caring for critically ill patients.
At the 6th World Congress on Intensive Care and Critical The critical care nurse enhances delivery of a holistic,
Care Medicine in Madrid, Spain, 1993, the World Federa- patient-centred approach in a high-tech environment,
tion of Societies of Intensive Care and Critical Care Medi- bringing to the patient care team a unique combination
cine endorsed what has become known as the Declaration of knowledge and caring. In order to fulfil their role,
of Madrid on the Preparation of Critical Care Nurses. nurses require appropriate specialised knowledge and
skills not typically included in the basic nursing programs
In May 2003 the World Federation of Critical Care Nurses of most countries.
undertook a review of the Declaration of Madrid and
recommendations from the Australian College of Critical Government, professional and educational bodies gov-
Care Nurses’ position statement on critical care nursing erning the practice of nursing must recognise the impor-
education and other similar documents from member tance of dedicated specialised preparation for critical
associations. The current position statement aims to care nurses in order to assure the optimum healthcare
inform/assist critical care nursing associations, healthcare delivery of their community. This declaration presents
providers, educational facilities and other interested guidelines universally accepted by critical care profes-
parties in the development and provision of critical care sionals, which may be adapted to meet the educational
nursing education. and healthcare requirements of a particular country or
jurisdiction.
The first draft of this position statement was distributed
to member societies of the WFCCN between February II. Central Principles
2004 and September 2004 and changes made following
discussion and meeting of the WFCCN in Cambridge, 1. Critically ill patients and families have the right to
September 2004. receive individualised critical care from qualified
professional nurses.
The second draft of this position statement was distrib- 2. Critical care nurses must possess appropriate
uted to a wider audience including member societies knowledge, attributes and skills to effectively
of WFCCN, other international nursing and medicine respond to the needs of critically ill patients, to
organisations and individuals with an interest in critical the demands of society, and to the challenges of
care nursing between October 2004 and April 2005. advancing technology.
The third draft of this position statement was distributed 3. Where a basic nursing education program does not
to an ever-wider audience, again including member soci- include these required specialised knowledge, attri-
eties of WFCCN, other international nursing and medi- butes and skills, access to such further education
cine organisations and individuals with an interest in must be provided to nurses responsible for the care
critical care nursing between May 2005 and August 2005. of critically ill patients and their families.
4. Nurses with specialised knowledge and expertise
A full meeting of the World Federation of Critical Care in the provision of care to critically ill patients
Nurses on Saturday 27 August 2005 at the Sheraton should play an integral part in the education of
Hotel, Buenos Aires, Argentina, ratified this position critical care nurses, even when a multidisciplinary,
statement. educational approach is utilised.
5. The preparation of critical care nurses must be
based on the most current available information
and research.