Page 802 - ACCCN's Critical Care Nursing

A P P E N D I X B A U S T R A L I A N C O L L E G E O F C R I T I C A L C A R E N U R S E S ( A C C C N ) P O S I T I O N S TAT E M E N T S 779

APPENDIX B4 l advanced airway management, including intu-
ACCCN RESUSCITATION POSITION bation
STATEMENT (2006) – ADULT & l transcutaneous pacing
l post-resuscitation management
PAEDIATRIC RESUSCITATION l transport of a patient
BY NURSES
PALS
The Australian College of Critical Care Nurses Ltd recom-
mends that all nurses should receive Basic Life Support l advanced airway management
(BLS) training as a component of their entry-level l use of age appropriate equipment
qualification and that they be responsible for maintain- l administration of first-line pharmacological agents
ing their competence in BLS at minimum on an annual and fluid therapy according to weight
basis. ACCCN Ltd further recommends that, where l alternative access to circulation
semi-automatic defibrillators are accessible, competence l defibrillation
in their use should be considered a feature of BLS training l post-resuscitation management
and practice. l transport of a patient
In addition, ACCCN Ltd recommends that registered Where registered nurses are working in isolation and are
nurses working in critical care environments where primarily responsible for the health care and manage-
patients are at risk of sudden life-threatening emergencies ment of communities, competency in BLS, ALS and PALS
due to airway, breathing and/or circulatory conditions is recommended. The registered nurse should be sup-
should become competent in the provision of Advanced ported by appropriate education guidelines, protocols,
Life Support (ALS). Where registered nurses work in areas communication and ALS equipment to manage patients
where children are at risk of sudden life-threatening with life-threatening emergencies until support services
emergencies they should become competent in the provi- can arrive.
sion of Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). Com-
petencies in ALS should be performed annually. As with BLS, the ACCCN Ltd recommends that registered
nurses formally reassess their competency in ALS/PALS
Healthcare agencies that provide critical care facilities on at least an annual basis. Informal, frequent self-
should define the registered nurse’s role in initiating and assessments, either through work performance in
maintaining ALS skills with or without a medical officer clinical sessions or through simulation exercises, are also
present. These skills may include: advised between formal assessments.

ALS In keeping with its member status of the Australian Resus-
citation Council (ARC), the ACCCN Ltd promotes and
l arrhythmia recognition supports the policies and guidelines of the ARC. Follow-
l defibrillation ing these national guidelines creates a consistent approach
l insertion of intravenous cannulae to life-threatening situations and thus the best possible
l administration of first-line pharmacological agents outcome for patients.