The Alfred Intensive Care Unit: a new combination
The Alfred Intensive Care Unit: a new combination is a scholarly work, published in 2001 in ''Connect The World of Critical Care Nursing''. The main subjects of the publication include medicine, family centered care, medical education, promotion, intensive care unit, business, pride, public relations, psychology, hospital accreditation, task, nursing, relevance, disaster response, and unit. Nurses have an immense capacity to cope with challenge and change.This paper discusses the benefits resulting from what would seem a complex, and potentially overwhelming, changethe amalgamation of three specialist intensive care units into one to form a 35-bed unit.Despite the enormity of the task, the authors convey a sense of pride and achievement in discussing some of the strategies used to manage change and to develop the new unit.We feel the description, and implementation, of these strategies are of relevance to a wider audience beyond the Southern Hemisphere.This article updates a report first published in Critical Times.It is clear that the contribution of each staff member is valued.Staff are actively encouraged to take advantage of educational opportunities and to participate in practice development activities.The support mechanisms ensure that individuals are guided in maximising their contribution as well as achieving personal goals.There is a strong emphasis on the promotion of an effective working and learning environment.It is also clear that the central focus of activity is the patient.Overall, the unit has developed a culture that fosters practice development and the provision of high quality care.In these times of difficulties in recruiting and retaining critical care nursing staff, lessons can be taken from the experiences of those at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.