Katerina Iliopoulou, RN, PhD – Implementation science research in ICU, Healthcare Researcher, Hellenic National Public Health Organisation, Chair N&AHPs Committee, ESICM

Margo van Mol, RN, Assistant Professor, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Department of Intensive Care Adults, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Chair elect N&AHP Committee, ESICM

The Olympus project is led by Nurses in ESICM and targets ICU Nurses in Europe, and worldwide.

The following activities are included in the Olympus project:

• Development of guidelines titled ‘’Implementation of family centred care in ICU’’
• An online event to celebrate the International Nurses Day on May 10th, 2024.
• Stay tuned, more information coming soon!
• A Delphi study aiming to identify the perceptions of critical care nurses about their professional role in ICU in 2030
• A scoping review titled interprofessional care in ICU
• Development of guidelines titled ‘’Implementation of family centred care in ICU’’

• 13:00-13:25 Welcome and introduction – Chairs: Nikolaos Efstathiou (UK) Alessandro Galazzi (IT)
Welcome by ESICM president – Elie Azoulay (FR)
Welcome by ESICM N&AHP chair – Katerina Illiopoulou (GR)
ICU Nursing: Past, present, and future – Ruth Kleinpell (US)

• 13:30-14:25 Section 1: Shaping ICU nurses’ future – Chair: Leanne Aitken (UK)
ICU nurses’ workforce issues – Natalie Pattison (UK)
Healthy working environment – Evanthia Georgiou (CY)
From newly qualified nurse to ICU nurse – Brandi Vanderspank (CA)
Wrap up Discussing ICU nurses’ workforce issues – Leanne Aitken (UK)

• 14:30-15:20 Section 2: From clinical ICU practice to research –  Chairs: Adriano Friganovic (HR) Carole Boulanger (UK)
ECMO: A never ending journey – Alberto Lucchini (IT)
Vascular access procedures: From nursing practice to research – Theodoros Katsoulas (GR)
Chlorhexidine and oral care – Stijn Blot (BE)

• 15:30-16:15 Section 3: Meet the expert – Chairs: Silvia Calvino Gunther (FR) Marta Borkowska (BE)
Long term outcomes after sepsis: research priorities – Laura Alberto (AR)
Artificial intelligence in nursing practice – Siobhan O’Connor (UK)
Personalised ICU care – Peter Nydhal (DE)

• 16:20-17:05 Section 4: Current issues in ICU Nursing – Chairs: Elisabeth Papathanasoglou (CA) Hansen Torunn (NO)
Stop nuisance alarms in the hospital for safer and pleasent workplace:our experience – Ella Domanskaya (IT)
Advanced Practice in Critical Care and Outreach- Brigitta Fazzini (UK)
Sustainable nursing care in ICU through research and quality improvement – Heather Baid (UK)

• 17:10-17:40 Section 5: Collaborating with other ICU professionals – Chairs: Julie Benbenishty (IL)
Defining collaboration in ICU – Andreas Xyrichis (UK)
The physician’s perspective – Laura Galarza (SP)
The physiotherapist’s perspective – Sabrina Eggmann (CH)
The dietitian’s perspective – Patty Lakenman (NL)
The pharmacist’s perspective – Nicole Hunfeld (NL)

• 17:45-18:00 Wrap up & conclusions
Olympus project – next steps – Katerina Illiopoulou (GR)
Conclusions and Thank you from Organising Committee – Nikolaos Efstathiou (UK) Alessandro Galazzi (IT)

Humanisation in critical care refers to the approach of treating patients and their families as individuals with unique experiences, emotions, and needs.

This course aims to provide an overview of the importance of humanisation in critical care and how healthcare professionals can provide evidence-based, person-centred care in their daily practice to improve patient outcomes and experiences.

At the end of each webinar, there will be 5-10 multiple-choice questions to test knowledge. ESICM will offer 20 free entries to LIVES 2023 in Milan to the top-scoring participants. (Note: priority will be given to ESICM N&AHP and pharmacist members).

• Nebulised antibiotic therapy in mechanically ventilated ~ April 2018
• Infectious Hazards for the Intensive Care Health Care Worker ~ April 2018
• Infection prevention in special populations: The young and old ~ April 2018
• Infections in immunocompromised hosts ~ March 2018
• Essentials of Antimicrobial Therapy ~ March 2018
• Early Detection and Recognition of Sepsis ~ February 2018
• Prevention of device-associated infection through quality improvement strategies ~ January 2018
• Central-line associated bloodstream infection ~ January 2018
• Targeted infection prevention: Ventilator-associated pneumonia ~ November 2017
• General infection prevention and control ~ November 2017
• Risk factors and epidemiology of infection ~ November 2017

• Secretions ~ Worth the bother? ~ April 2020
• Renal Replacement Therapy ~ September 2020
• Management of Raised Intracranial Pressure  ~ September 2020
• Worldwide Pressure Injury Prevention Day ~ November 2018
• Building a sustainable safety culture in the ICU ~ November 2017
• Achieving a good discharge ~ September 2017
• Families Visiting the ICU: a Blessing or a Curse? ~ May 2017
• Why aren’t we progressively mobile in spite of the evidence base? ~ May 2017

ESICM offers direct funding to researchers in the field of Intensive Care Medicine. Intensivists working in all areas of the discipline are invited to apply by submitting their proposed research projects.

Ongoing Projects

Physiotherapy Provision and Practice: A EuropeAn Intensive CarE Unit (ICU) Survey (PEACE)

PEACE is a prospective, observational cross-sectional study that aims to provide an up-to-date, international picture of the provision of physiotherapy services within ICUs across Europe.

LIBERATION Study

This prospective, multicentre observational study aims to investigate the epidemiology and treatments given to the patients and evaluate the implementation of evidence-based ICU care and its association with the outcomes of patients with ARDS admitted to the ICU.

Completed Projects

DecubICUs: A Multicentre International One-Day Prevalence Study on Pressure Injuries in Intensive Care Units

The objective of this study was to provide an up-to-date, global picture of the extent and patterns of pressure injuries in ICUs. Point prevalence studies are only of value when performed on a vast scale. To sample a representative cohort, we intend to recruit about 1200 ICUs with all continents covered and as many countries as possible within each continent.

PIs: Stijn Blot / Sonia Labeau

Inactic Study

INACTIC [International Nursing Advanced Competency-based Training for Intensive Care] Erasmus+ funded project. The aim of this two-year project was to develop a set of detailed competencies required of an advanced-level intensive care nurse and to map these competencies against country-specific and multi-country policies and evidence for advanced practice nursing.

The project has resulted in competency statements in 8 different languages, and a framework of online resources mapped to these competencies.

In Level 3, participants are expected to develop a research proposal up to the point of being ready to submit the project for funding. Faculty involvement will shift from teaching to a mentorship role, supporting and guiding participants in developing a research proposal in their chosen area.

In this icTV interview, Advanced Critical Care Practitioner, Carole Boulanger, describes the rationale for advanced nursing training and updates on the current state of practice in the UK and Europe.

Often considered a healthcare complication of the past, pressure injuries sadly remain an issue for long-term ICU patients – one that threatens the safety of these patients and, as such, requires study and, ultimately, solutions.

The objective of this multicentre International one-day prevalence study from the ESICM Trials Group is to provide an up-to-date, international “global” picture of the extent and patterns of pressure injuries in ICUs.

Co-PI, Stijn Blot, describes the rationale for DecubICUs and outlines the aims.

Stijn Blot discusses considerations surrounding the use of peripherally-inserted central catheters versus central venous catheters in the ICU in this icTV interview.