Latest News and Updates
16th March 2021
Updates to End of Life Care for All (e-ELCA) e-learning
A new session on the AMBER care bundle has been added to the End of Life Care for All (e-ELCA) e-learning programme.
09th Feburary 2021
The Critical Care skills passport is now digital. This passport was developed, in partnership with stakeholders, to prepare and support staff deployed to critical care to work as Registered Support Clinicians (RSC) or Non-Registered Support Staff (NRSS).
Providing the skills passport on a digital platform enhances its accessibility for both RSC and NRSS users as well as for those working in the environments to where staff members have been redeployed. The passport’s reporting function enables each Trust to assess the preparedness of areas in relation to staffing. For more information click HERE
18th January 2021
The London Transformation and Learning Collaborative (LTLC) have created a free, open access training portal for healthcare professionals working in or being redeployed to work in critical care. It includes training resources for clinical skills, A-E assessments, non-invasive ventilation, proning, safety and wellbeing, communication and non-technical skills. The infographic can be found LTLC Resources for Redeployment infographic and link HERE.
They also have provided:
10 quick wins for managing the covid surge infographic
10 quick wins for managing the covid surge slides
15th January 2021
UKCCNA Position Statement: Nurse Staffing During COVID-19 HERE
16th December 2020
BTS and the Intensive Care Society have developed guidance on the use of CPAP, HFNO and NIV for patients with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure secondary to COVID-19: HERE
30th November 2020
ICNARC report on COVID-19 in Critical Care 27 November 2020 HERE
2nd November 2020
NICE: COVID-19 guideline: management of the long term effects of COVID-19 HERE
30th October 2020
Health Safety Investigation Branch: Investigation into COVID-19 transmission in hospitals HERE
The CLAP Study: Summary of Findings: Caring, Learning and Pandemic response during COVID-19: NHS Staff Experience of Working in Critical Care HERE
Clinical Guide for the management of critical care adults with COVID-19 (version 4): This clinical guidance provides contemporary information for practising clinicians caring for critically ill adult patients with COVID-19. Whilst many of these patients will be cared for on intensive care units, some patients receiving continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) and/or non-invasive ventilation (NIV) may be cared for on specialist respiratory wards. Version 4 updates the previous FICM and ICS guideline published in June 2020. HERE
26th October 2020
ICNARC report on COVID-19 in Critical Care published 23 October 2020 HERE
12th October 2020
Clinical guidelines for best practice and service resilience during COVID-19 HERE
6th October 2020
ICNARC COVID-19 Report October 2020 HERE
28th September 2020
The KingsFund: The courage of compassion: supporting nurses and midwifes to deliver high quality care HERE
Anaesthesia and Critical Care: guidance for Clinical Directors on preparation for a possible second surge in COVID-19 (21 Sept 2020) HERE
21st September 2020
A useful resource for professionals to share with patients with Covid 19, and their familily, regarding critical care recovery and intensive care HERE
17th September 2020
BAPEN Nasogastric Tube Special Interest Group have released a position paper on “Putting patient safety first” this #WorldPatientSafetyDay! You can read more about their position on Never Events and the solutions they recommend HERE
9th September 2020
In the lead up to World Sepsis Day on the 13th of September please find these very relevant reports published this week:
World Health Organisation: “Global report on the epidemiology and burden of sepsis: current evidence, identifying gaps and future directions HERE
ICNARC report on COVID-19 in Critical Care 07th September 2020 HERE
3rd August 2020
COVID-19 pandemic personal protective equipment (PPE): Guidance for intensive care HERE
ICNARC COVID-19 Report 31 July 2020 HERE
28th July 2020
Acute Kidney Injury in COVID-19 Caring for Patients Requiring Alternative Renal Replacement Therapy in Critical Care Units. This document has been produced by the Association of Nephrology Nurses UK endorsed by BACCN. You can view the document HERE
27th July 2020
ICNARC COVID-19 Report July 2020 HERE
29th June 2020
ICNARC COVID-19 Report dated 26.06.2020 HERE
22nd June 2020
ICNARC COVID-19 Report dated 19.06.2020 HERE
15th June 2020
The Kings Fund: Learning from staff experiences of COVID-19: Let the light come streaming in HERE
9th June 2020
ICNARC COVID-19 Report HERE
2nd June 2020
RSM COVID-19 Series: Upcoming Seminars
Episode 18: Even more of your questions answered
Date: Tuesday 2 June 2020
Time: 12:30pm - 1:15pm BST
Episode 19: All things evidence
Date: Thursday 4 June 2020
Time: 12:30pm - 1:00pm BST
For full details see https://www.baccn.org/about/covid-19-nurse-educational-resource-centre/resources-for-nurses/further-resources-and-courses/
29th May 2020
ICNARC COVID-19 Critical Care Report from 29th of May 2020: HERE
22nd May 2020
ICNARC COVID-19 Critical Care Report from 22nd of May 2020: HERE
The Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine has released Bridging guidance for Critical Care during the restoration of NHS Services HERE
18th May 2020
The Infection Prevention Society (IPS) releases questions and answer document on “Using PPE for Covid-19 in Intensive Care Settings” and accompanying video: HERE
17th May 2020
United Nations COVID-19 and the Need for Action on Mental Health policy brief: HERE
15th May 2020
ICNARC COVID-19 Critical Care Report from 15th of May 2020: HERE
Provisional guidance on the recovery and rehabilitation for patients following the pandemic: HERE
14th May 2020
Combined BACCN Virtual Journal Club and Twitter Chat: 26th of May 20:00 - 21:00
In recognition of how busy you all are at present alongside our desire to not stop engaging and or learning, we've decided to combine our next BACCN Virtual Journal Club and monthly Twitter chat for May. This enables you to join either one of the two platforms to engage with the discussion.
This month we've joined forces with the team from the Laura Hyde Foundation where we'll be discussing the rapidly changing landscape of mental health for all emergency and healthcare professionals. With this in mind, our journal article will be:
Stress management interventions for intensive and critical care nurses: A systematic review
Ja'far Mohammad Aqeel Alkhawaldeh
Firdaus Binti Mamat Mukhtar PhD
Nursing in Critical CareVolume 25, Issue 2
First published: 15 December 2019
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/nicc.12489
The journal club/ twitter chat will take place on 26th May 2020 20:00-21:00
If you wish to join the Zoom discussion please follow the link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a0cEFTwYRUeFr0j3zZJULQ
The Twitter chat will be moderated by @karin_gerber on behalf of @BACCNUK and will run alongside the Zoom discussion and we'll be asking your thoughts/experiences on the subject using #baccnmind
Join us and let's keep the conversation going...
6th May 2020
ICS Guidance on decision-making under pandemic conditions: HERE
5th May 2020
UKCCNA position statement Critical Care nursing workforce post COVID: HERE
4th May 2020
Watch free webinar from the The British Psychological Society (BPS) on meeting the psychological needs of people recovering from severe Covid-19. HERE
1st May 2020
Latest ICNARC COVID-19 report. To support our NHS and critical care colleagues in planning, both centrally and locally, please find a report on the first reported 7542 patients critically ill with COVID-19. HERE
30th April 2020
The Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine and BACCN joint statement regarding second phase NHS response and impact on Critical Care. HERE
29th April 2020
WHO states that COVID-19 exposes the critical importance of patient rehabilitation HERE
myICUvoice is now available for free on the App Store. A simple communication tool for ventilated ICU patients combined with a database to ensures nurses are able to target and monitor effective treatments. View the App release video HERE
Management and Care of Trachomised Patients HERE
Guidance on the use of video communication for patients and relatives - with members of the BACCN National Board adding the very essential Critical Care Nursing Voice HERE
Drop in Surgery- Time slots are available
Matt Broadway-Horner is a consultant nurse, psychotherapist, academic, writer and trainer specialising in psychological therapies. He is offering a free online drop in surgery and is an accredited CBT therapist but the main work is psychological first aid where he can provide advice and a way of working in disaster / disease areas. The aim is to provide safety, be secure, connecting and provide support for nurses at this time.
If you are interested contact Matt through WhatsApp 07795416644 and appointments will operate on a first come first served basis.
Send a message to Matt saying “My name is ………and I am a critical care nurse @ BACCN can I have a time to see you?” Any texts received will be booked into the next available drop in slot which will be 30 minutes per person. Once you have been provided a time slot Matt will then ask you to call him through WhatsApp via video or audio depending on your preferred option.
If you require any further informtation please contact support@baccn.org
25th April 2020
The latest summary report from our COVID-19 knowledge sharing session on thromboprophylaxis and anticoagulation of ICU patients (with Trish McCready, BACCN National Board providing the very essential Critical Care Nursing Voice) HERE
Escalation decisions on ICU during COVID-19: The current pandemic has presented intensive care doctors with greater challenges in making escalation decisions. In this podcast Dr Clare Stapleton discusses ways to approach these decisions with Dr Chris Danbury, Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine.
You can hear the podcast from Dr Claire Stapleton HERE
Leeds Teaching Hospitals have provided some useful information regarding caring for patients in critical care with a Learning Disability. View this information in the resources area of the website which can be found. HERE
18th April 2020
A rapid dissemination summary report of a facilitated ‘Knowledge Sharing Session’ between international clinicians from China, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and the USA with a considerable collective experience of ICU management of COVID-19 infected patients. The session was hosted on 13 April 2020, 16:00 to 18:00, by the Intensive Care Society, following an informative session held previously between UK clinicians.
Please see the full report HERE
16th April 2020
The Infection Prevention Society (IPS) and British Association of Critical Care Nurses (BACCN) issue joint statement on Facilitating compassionate care for patients dying with COVID-19.
The guidance to health and social care organisations aims to minimise the distress being experienced by families and loved ones of people who are at the end of life.
“End of life care is a fundamental pillar of nursing care and relates to both the care of the person at the end of life and their family. The current COVID-19 epidemic has resulted in all normal hospital/ hospice and care home visiting being suspended except for special circumstances.”
“The IPS and BACCN agree that being with a loved one at the end of their life constitutes a special circumstance and, that wherever possible, the health/social care organisation should instigate safe and compassionate approaches that allow an immediate family member/ significant other to be with a dying person at the end of life.”
IPS President, Pat Cattini says: “We hope these guidelines enable care givers to provide confident safe and compassionate end of life care during this difficult time.”
Dr Louise Styat, from the BACCN Board says: “We at the BACCN are honoured to work alongside the IPS and provide guidance on facilitating safe family visitation to patients at the end of life as caring for both patients and their loved ones is fundamental to critical care nursing.”
To read the guidelines in full see: https://bit.ly/IPS_BACCN
12th April 2020
ICS Guidance for Prone Positioning of the Conscious COVID Patient 2020
Critical care services in the English NHS | The King's Fund
8th April 2020
Guidance for the role and use of non-invasive respiratory support in adult patients with COVID-19
7th April 2020
State of the World’s Nursing Report - 2020
5th April 2020
BACCN Chair representing Critical Care Nurses on this NECCC:
'COVID-19: a synthesis of clinical experience in UK intensive care settings'
A rapid dissemination summary report of a facilitated ‘Knowledge Sharing Session’ between UK clinicians with considerable experience of ICU management of COVID-19 infected patients. The session was hosted on 3 April 2020, 10:30 to 11:30 am, by the Intensive Care Society as part of the National Emergency Critical Care Committee.
2nd April 2020
31st March 2020
Drop in Surgery
Matt Broadway-Horner is a consultant nurse, psychotherapist, academic, writer and trainer specialising in psychological therapies. He is offering a free online drop in surgery and is an accredited CBT therapist but the main work is psychological first aid where he can provide advice and a way of working in disaster / disease areas. The aim is to provide safety, be secure, connecting and provide support for nurses at this time.
If you are interested contact Matt through WhatsApp 07795416644 and appointments will operate on a first come first served basis.
Send a message to Matt saying “My name is ………and I am a critical care nurse @ BACCN can I have a time to see you?” Any texts received will be booked into the next available drop in slot which will be 30 minutes per person. Once you have been provided a time slot Matt will then ask you to call him through WhatsApp via video or audio depending on your preferred option.
If you require any further informtation please contact support@baccn.org
29th March 2020
On Tuesday night (31st of March) in only our second virtual journal club session we were going to discuss a paper done by Baid et al (2019) "Sustainability in critical care practice: a grounded theory study" but in recognition of our current situation we've decided to change this session into a webinar where we'll be discussing something many Critical Care nurses in particular but also those members of staff that have stepped into the breach to help us manage the significant surge we're dealing with within Critical Care services are stuggling to come to terms with.
Sustaining high-quality, critical care practice is challenging because of current limits to financial, environmental, and social resources. The National Health Service in England intends to be more sustainable, although there is minimal research into what sustainability means to people working in critical care, and a theoretical framework is lacking that explains the social processes influencing sustainability in critical care" - Baid et al (2019). When selecting this article never thought it would really be so topical at the time!
Many Critical Care nurses are feeling anxious & saddened as we are slowly coming to terms with the realisation that we won't be able to deliver the patient & family-centred high-quality nursing care that we take pride in every day and certainly believe our patients deserve every day during this crises. In most cases, we'll be going back to delivering task orientated care instead to ensure patients are being kept as safe as possible. Many other professionals that are stepping into a critical care nursing environment either for the first time and or returning to the bedside in this crises are also extremely anxious and worried that they'll be working outside of their usual comfort zone.
With this in mind we'll be changing our journal club session into a "webinar" where we'll be talking to Heather Baid (author of your journal club article), various members of the National Board and hopefully Sarah Milligan who joined us in our wellbeing session to talk about how we feel and how we can support each other in this difficult time we are all facing.
BACCN National Board
"We are here for YOU"; #criticalcarenursesstandingtogether; #proudtobeacriticalcarenurse
27th March 2020
View our latest Virtual Espresso Session:
Working to be well: Wellbeing & COVID-19
Presented by Sarah Milligan, Lead for Learning Environment Wellbeing & Sister Claire Kauppila, Critical Care Outreach, Frimley Health Foundation Trust.
26th March 2020
25th March 2020
Project Nightingale update
Project Nightingale is a brand new hospital being located within Excel London
21st March 2020
Open access to BACCN Learn Zone
We are arranging for the BACCN members-only Learn Zone area to be made open to all from Saturday 21st March 2020.
Twitter Chats
Keep an eye out for our regular Twitter Chats using @BACCNUK