Critical Care Skills Checklist            

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This profile is for use by Critical Care nurses with more than one year experience in their discipline and specialty. It will not be a determining factor for employment but it may aid in promoting yourself at the Interview.

Please enter your full legal name as it appears on your Social Security Card.

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______  - ______ - ______ 		 Date
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Please indicate your level of experience by checking the applicable box below.
A. Theory, no practice C. One - two years experience
B. Intermittent experience D. Two plus years experience
A. CARDIOVASCULAR
  1. Assessment
    a. Abnormal heart sounds/murmurs | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Auscultation (rate, rhythm) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Blood pressure/non-invasive | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    d. Doppler | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    e. Pulses/circulation checks | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  2. Interpretation of lab results
    a. Cardiac enzymes & isoenzymes | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Coagulation studies | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  3. Equipment & procedures
    a. Assist with
      (1) Arterial line insertion | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (2) Central line insertion | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (3) Open chest emergency | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (4) PA catheter/Swan-Ganz insertion | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (5) Pericardiocentesis | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (6) Transesophageal echocardiogram | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Automatic internal cardioverter defibrillator | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Cardioversion | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    d. CAVH-D | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    e. Hemodynamic monitoring
      (1) Cardiac index | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (2) Cardiac output | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (3) CVP monitoring | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (4) Femoral artery sheath removal | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (5) MAP | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (6) PA/Swan-Ganz | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (7) PCW pressure | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (8) PVR | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (9) Radial a-line | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (10) SVO2 | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (11) SVR | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    f. Intra aortic balloon pump | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    g. Monitoring
      (1) 12 lead EKG interpretation | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (2) Arrhythmia interpretation | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (3) Lead placement | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (4) Rhythm strip assessment | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (5) Set up and run 12 lead EKG | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    h. Pacemaker
      (1) External | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (2) Permanent | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (3) Temporary | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (4) Transthoracic (epicardial) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    i. Ventricular assist device (RVAD or LVAD) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  4. Care of the patient with:
    a. Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Acute MI | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Cardiac arrest | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    d. Cardiac tamponade | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    e. Congestive heart failure (CHF) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    f. EP study & ablation | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    g. Heart transplant | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    h. Immediate post open-heart surgery | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    i. Infective endocarditis | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    j. Myocardial contusion | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    k. Pericarditis | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    l. Post AICD insertion | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    m. Post arthrectomy (DCA) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    n. Post commissurotomy, valve repair,  
      valve replacement | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    o. Post intracoronary stent placement | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    p. Post percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    q. Post rotoblade | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    r. Pre/post angioplasty | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    s. Pre/post cardiac cath | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  5. Medications
    a. Amiodarone (Cardarone) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Atropine | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Bicarbonate | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    d. Bretylium (Bretylol) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    e. Digoxin (Lanoxin) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    f. Diltiazem (Cardizem) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    g. Dobutamine (Dobutrex) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    h. Dopamine (Intropin) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    i. Epinephrine (Adrenalin) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    j. Esmolol (Brevibloc) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    k. Inocor (Amrinone) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    l. Lidocaine (Xylocaine) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    m. Metoprolol (Lopressor) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    n. Nipride (Nitroprusside) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    o. Nitroglycerine (Tridil) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    p. Procainamide (Pronestyl) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    q. Reteplase recombinant (Retavase) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    r. Streptokinase | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    s. TPA (Alteplase) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    t. Verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
B. PULMONARY
  1. Assessment
    a. Adventitious breath sounds | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Rate and work of breathing | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  2. Interpretation of lab results - arterial blood gases | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  3. Equipment & procedures
    a. Air leak troubleshooting
      (1) Mediastinal chest tube removal | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (2) Pleural chest tube removal | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Airway management devices/suctioning
      (1) Endotracheal tube/suctioning | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (2) Extubation | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (3) Nasal airway/suctioning | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (4) Oximetry | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (5) Sputum specimen collection | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (6) Tracheostomy/suctioning | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Assist with
      (1) Bronchoscopy | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (2) Chest tube insertion | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (3) Emergency tracheostomy | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (4) Thoracentesis | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    d. Establishing an airway
      (1) Assist with intubation | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (2) Oral airway insertion | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    e. Identification/intervention for respiratory complications
      (1) Aspiration | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (2) Laryngospasm | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (3) Tension pneumothorax | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (4) Use of Pleurevac or Thoraclex drainage | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (5) Use of water seal drainage | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    f. O2 therapy & medication delivery systems  
      (1) Ambu bag and mask | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (2) ET tube | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (3) Face masks | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (4) Nasal cannula | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (5) Portable O2 tank | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (6) Trach collar | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    g. Ventilator management
      (1) External CPAP | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (2) High frequency jet ventilation | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (3) IMV | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (4) PEEP | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (5) Pressure support | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (6) Weaning modes & T-piece weaning | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  4. Care of the patient with:
    a. Acute pneumonia | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. ARDS | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Chest trauma | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    d. COPD | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    e. Cor pulmonale | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    f. Fresh tracheostomy | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    g. Lobectomy | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    h. Lung transplant | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    i. Near drowning | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    j. Pneumonectomy | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    k. Pulmonary edema/hypertension | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    l. Pulmonary embolism | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    m. Status asthmaticus | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    n. Thoracotomy | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    o. Tuberculosis | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  5. Medications
    a. Alupent (Metaproterenol) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Aminophylline (Theophylline) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Bronkosol (Isoetharine hydrochloride) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    d. Corticosteroids | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    e. Ventolin (Albuterol) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
C. NEUROLOGICAL
  1. Assessment
    a. Cranial nerves | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Glasgow coma scale | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Level of consciousness | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    d. Pathologic reflexes | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    e. Reflex/motor deficits | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    f. Visual or communication deficits | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  2. Equipment & procedures
    a. Assist with lumbar puncture | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Halo traction/cervical tongs | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Intracranial pressure monitoring | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    d. Nerve stimulators | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    e. Rotating bed | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    f. Seizure precautions | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    g. Spinal precautions | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    h. Stryker frame | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    i. Use of hyper/hypothermia blanket | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  3. Care of the patient with:
    a. Aneurysm precautions | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Basal skull fracture | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Closed head injury | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    d. Coma | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    e. CVA | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    f. DTs | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    g. Encephalitis | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    h. Externalized VP shunts | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    i. Increased ICP | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    j. Laminectomy | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    k. Meningitis | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    l. Metastatic tumor/intracranial tumor resection | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    m. Multiple sclerosis | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    n. Post craniotomy | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    o. Spinal cord injury | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    p. Ventriculostomy | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  4. Medications
    a. Barbiturate induced coma | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Decadron (Dexamethasone) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Dilantin (Phenytoin) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    d. Epidural administration | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    e. Phenobarbital | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    f. Valium (Diazepam) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
         
D. GASTROINTESTINAL
  1. Assessment
    a. Abdominal/bowel sounds | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Nutritional | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  2. Interpretation of lab results
    a. Serum ammonia | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Serum amylase | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. LFTs | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  3. Equipment & procedures
    a. Administration of tube feeding | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Balloon tamponade (Sengstaken Blakemore) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Feeding pump | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    d. Flexible feeding tube (i.e., Corpak, Dobhoff) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    e. Gravity feeding | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    f. Iced saline lavage | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    g. Management of
      (1) Gastrostomy tube | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (2) Jejunostomy tube | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (3) T-tube | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (4) TPN and lipids administration | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (5) PPN (peripheral parenteral nutrition) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    h. Placement of nasogastric tube | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    i. Salem sump to suction | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  4. Care of the patient with:
    a. Blunt trauma | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Bowel obstruction | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Colostomy | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    d. ERCP | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    e. Esophageal bleeding | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    f. GI bleeding | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    g. GI surgery | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    h. Hepatitis | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    i. Ileostomy | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    j. Inflammatory bowel disease | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    k. Liver failure | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    l. Liver transplant | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    m. Pancreatitis | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    n. Paralytic ileus | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    o. Penetrating trauma | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  5. Medications
    a. AquaMephyton (Vitamin K) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Inderal (Propranolol) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Kayexelate | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    d. Lactulose (Cephulac) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    e. Pitressin (Vasopressin) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
E. RENAL/GENITOURINARY
  1. Assessment
    a. A-V fistula/shunt | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Fluid status | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  2. Interpretation of lab results
    a. BUN & creatinine | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Serum electrolytes | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  3. Equipment & procedures
    a. Bladder irrigation | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Insertion & care of straight and Foley catheter
      (1) 3-way Foley | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (2) Female | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
      (3) Male | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Supra-pubic | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  4. Care of the patient with:
    a. Acute renal failure | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. CAVH dialysis | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Hemodialysis | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    d. Nephrectomy | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    e. Peritoneal dialysis | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    f. Renal rejection syndrome | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    g. Renal transplant | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    h. TURP | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    i. Urinary diversion (ileal conduit nephrostomy) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    j. Urinary tract infection | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
F. ENDOCRINE/METABOLIC
  1. Interpretation of lab results
    a. Blood glucose | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Thyroid studies | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  2. Equipment & procedures
    a. Blood glucose measuring device: type   __________________________________
    b. Blood glucose monitoring | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Performing finger stick | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  3. Care of the patient with:
    a. Diabetes mellitus | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Diabetic ketoacidosis | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Disorders of adrenal gland (e.g., Addison's disease) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    d. Disorders of pituitary gland (e.g., DI) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    e. Drug overdose | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    f. Hyperthyroidism (Grave's disease) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    g. Hypothyroidism | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    h. Insulin shock | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    i. Thyroidectomy - disorders of thyroid gland | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  4. Medication - insulin pump | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
G. WOUND MANAGEMENT
  1. Assessment
    a. Skin for impending breakdown | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Stasis ulcers | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Surgical wound healing | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  2. Equipment & procedures
    a. Air fluidized, low airloss beds | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Sterile dressing changes | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Wound care/irrigations | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
  3. Care of the patient with:
    a. Burns | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    b. Pressure sores | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    c. Staged decubitus ulcers | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    d. Surgical wounds with drain(s) | A |    | B |    | C |    | D |
    e. Traumatic wounds | A |&nbs