Table 1 Goals, scope, and training for medical students supporting critical care management
Overall goal • Care and monitoring of ICU patients including COVID-19 patients under supervision of senior ICU nurses | |
Scope of responsibility • Monitoring and reporting on: o Clinical status (temperature, GCS, heart-frequency, blood-pressure, respiratory-frequency, arterial BGA) o Respiratory support via nasal cannula, bag mask, high flow or NIV (oxygen flow and ventilation settings) o Respiratory support of intubated patients under direct supervision • Control, maintenance, and reporting on installations and infusions (central venous lines, drains, urinary catheter, etc.) • Support in emergency situations (cardiac/respiratory arrest) • Support during patient transport and medical interventions • Care of patients o Management and nursing of the conscious patient (assistance in primary needs) o Management and nursing of the unconscious patient o Bedding and mobilization o Ensuring standard hygiene and preventive measures • General support of nurses | |
Theoretical and hands-on training focus • Confidentiality, documentation, reporting • Infectology, self-protection, hygiene, and management of infectious patients • Catheters and ICU installations • Infusions and nutrition in the ICU • Microbiological sampling, including blood samples and arterial blood gas collection • Hemodynamics o Anatomical and physiological considerations o Non-invasive and invasive blood pressure, heart-frequency assessment o Basic vasopressor and inotropic management o Cardiac and respiratory arrest • Ventilation o Anatomical and physiological considerations o High-Flow and NIV o VAP prevention o Basic mechanical ventilation management o Ventilation via bag-valve mask • Correct mobilization and bedding-position techniques (prone position) • Basic communication, ethical aspects, patient safety, and self-care in crisis situations |