PICU Skills Checklist

PICU Skills Checklist
Answer Key

1. No Experience 2. Requires Supervision 3. Proficient 4. Can Teach Others

Cardiovascular*

	1	2	3	4
Auscultation (rate, rhythm, volume)
Blood pressure/invasive
Heart sounds/murmurs
Perfusion
Central venous pressure
EKG interpretation
Non-invasive cardiac monitoring
Pulmonary artery/capillary wedge
Right/left atrial
Bacterial endocarditis
Cardiac arrest
Cardiomyopathy
Congenital heart defects/disease
Hypovolemic shock
Myocarditis
Post cardiac surgery
Digoxin
Dobutamine (Dobutrex)
Dopamine (Intropin)
Epinephrine (Adrenaline)
Heparin
Isoproterenal
Lidocaine (Xylocaine)
Mannitol
Nipride (Nitroprusside)
Nitroglycerine (Tridil)
Sodium bicarbonate

Pulmonary*

	1	2	3	4
Breath sounds
Rate and work of breathing
Blood gases
X-ray reports
Equipment & Procedures:
Assist with extubation
Assist with intubation
Bulb syringe
Endotracheal tube suctioning
Nasal airway/suctioning
Oral airway/suctioning
Tracheostomy/suctioning
Apnea monitor use
Chest physiotherapy
Assist with chest tube insertion/removal
Chest tube set-up
Obtaining blood gases
Arterial
Heel stick
Peripheral
Pulse oximeter use
(Anesthesia) bag & mask
(Self-inflating) bag & mask
Isolette
Nasal cannula
Nebulizer
Oxyhood
Tent
Trach collar
Thoracentesis
CPAP/PEEP
High frequency jet ventilator
IMV
Pressure ventilator
Volume ventilator
Weaning
Bronchiolitis (RSV)
Chronic respiratory disease
Croup
Epiglottitis
Foreign body aspiration
Fresh tracheostomy
Hemothorax
Pneumonia
Pneumothorax
Respiratory distress
Respiratory failure
Status asthmaticus
Aminophylline (Theophylline)
Prostaglandin

Neurological*

	1	2	3	4
Assessment of neurological status
Intracranial pressure monitoring
Brain death/organ procurement
Coma
Encephalitis
External VP shunt
Head trauma
Meningitis
Neuromuscular disease
Post neurosurgery
Spinal cord injury
Status epilepticus
Use of anticonvulsant medication

Orthopedics*

	1	2	3	4
Cervical traction
Pinned fractures
Post-vertebral surgery

Gastrointestinal*

	1	2	3	4
Abdominal assessment
Nutritional assessment
Equipment & procedures
Abdominal decompression device
Assist with breast feeding
Bottle
Breast milk handling and storage
Gavage
Gastrostomy/button
Jejunal
Nasogastric (NG tube)
Test for occult blood
Abdominal surgery
Fresh ostomy
Gastroenteritis/dehydration
GE reflux
GI bleeding
Hepatic failure
Hepatitis
Stress ulcer

Renal/Genitourinary*

	1	2	3	4
Assessment of fluid balance
Test urine & interpret lab results
Assist with supra-pubic tap
Catheter
Diaper/bag
Foley catheter insertion and care
Straight catheterization
Care of supra-pubic catheter
Acute renal failure
Hemodialysis
Nephritis
Nephrotic syndrome
Peritoneal dialysis
Post-renal transplant
Syndrome inappropriate ADH (SIADH)

IV Therapy*

	1	2	3	4
Start peripheral IV's
Drawing blood from central line
Drawing venous blood
Cryoprecipitate
Packed red blood cells
Plasma/albumin
Whole blood
IV calculations/titrate drip rates
Use of infusion pumps
Broviac
Groshong
Hickman
Portacath
Quinton

Medication Administration*

	1	2	3	4
Calculating drugs by infusion
Dosage calculations
Eye/ear installations
IM injections
IV medications
Metered dose inhaler
SQ injections
Knowledge of emergency drug reactions

Other Skills*

	1	2	3	4
Charge nurse experience

Age Specific*

	1	2	3	4
Newborn/Neonatal (up to 30 days)
Infant (30 days to 1 year)
Toddler (1 to 3 years)
Preschooler (3 to 5 years)
School Age (5 to 12 years)
Adolescents (12 to 18 years)
Young Adults (18 to 39 years)
Middle Adults (40 to 64 years)
Older Adults (65 & up)

Undertaking*

The Information I Provided is True & Accurate
Name Signature*
Date*

MonthDayYear
Date
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