NMAHP Critical Care Resources

The Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure/Examination (ABCDE) approach is a systematic approach to the immediate assessment and treatment of critically ill or injured patients.

Introducing the ABCDE assessment

ABCDE assessment demonstration

Introduction to ABCDE Assessment: Deteriorating Patient: Assessment, recognition and management (canvas.net) 

Cardiac Arrest and ALS (CODE Blue) Simulation video

Covid related content from 17 learning modules 

How to interpret an arterial blood gas report   

Obstruction of the airway is an emergency which requires immediate expert help. Untreated, airway obstruction causes hypoxia and risks damage to vital organs and death.   

This short video examines how a practitioner who is new to intensive care can support the intubation of a patient.

Ventilator management essential skills for non-ICU nurses assiting duration intubation : video (8.32)

Immediate assessment of breathing, is vital to diagnose and treat life-threatening conditions such as acute severe asthma and tension pneumothorax. 

Ventilation in Covid 19 

A patient centred approach to Acute Non-Invasive Ventilation 

Review of ARDS and specific considerations in the context of COVID-19. 

How to prone and unprone a patient in critical care 

Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) course 2 : Medical Acid Base Balance, disorders & ABGs explained clearly 

Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) course 2 : Medical Acid Base and ABGs explained clearly 

(Note these ABG resources were not produced in the UK and as such the units of measurement will likely vary from those used locally) 

In most medical and surgical emergencies, hypovolaemia should be the considered the primary cause of shock until proven otherwise. 

Hemodynamic Basics for Nursing Students 

An introduction to vasopressors 

Arterial blood pressure monitoring : learning resource for critical care nursing staff ( Download, 2 MB) 

Central venous access devices (CVADs) workbook ( Download, 304 KB) 

Central venous catheter : learning resource for critcial care nursing staff ( Download, 2 MB) 

Invasive monitoring [updated July 2020] ( Download, 2 MB) 

Invasive monitoring 2 [updated July 2020] ( Download, 844 KB) 

Use of vasoactive drugs ( Download, 203 KB) 

The Resuscitation Council UK, report common causes of unconsciousness which include profound hypoxia, hypercapnia, cerebral hypoperfusion, or the recent administration of sedatives or analgesic drugs.  

SIGN: Care of deteriorating patients  

An introduction to the management of sepsis 

Managing severe hypoglycaemia in a hospital environment  

Comprehensive examination of the patient will require them to be exposed, with clothing, bedding adjusted or removed as necessary. 

Examine the patient for signs of trauma, bleeding, skin reactions, needle marks, or other potential causes for the deterioration in their condition. Care should be taken to minimise heat loss and preserve the patient’s dignity.  

Additional information will also be required as detailed by the Resuscitation Council UK - The ABCDE Approach | Resuscitation Council UK 

National early warning score (NEWS) in NHS Scotland 

National Early Warning Score 

National Early Warning Score (NEWS) 2 : charts 

Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR) 

SBAR Bedside Handover Report  

Escalating Concerns – NEWS and SBAR 

Acute assessment of the critically unwell adult treatment and escalation (AACUTE) course 

Assessment of COVID-19 in primary care (sign.ac.uk) 

Coronavirus (Covid 19) learning materials   

Recognising and responding when a patient is deteriorating  

Think Capacity Think Consent 

Feeding Patients on Critical Care Units in the Prone Position 

Nasogastric tube placement checks before first use in critical care settings during the COVID-19 response 

Non-critical care staff in critical care 

Delirium in Critical Care 

Edinburgh Napier University Interactive game – Covid 19 training