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Background: Due to changes in critical care worldwide, the World Federation of Critical Care Nurses Board of Directors commissioned a review of its 2005 Declaration of Buenos Aires: Position Statement on the Provision of a Critical Care Nursing Workforce. Aim: To provide international recommendations to inform and assist critical care nursing associations, health services, governments, and other interested stakeholders in the development and provision of an appropriate critical care nursing workforce. Methods: An international review group was established, comprised of critical care nurse clinicians, leaders, and researchers. A literature search was undertaken, which informed the revision of the 2005 Declaration, which is contained in the 2019 Position Statement. Position: The position is supported by six central principles, and is comprised of eight key statements: A critical care unit should have a dedicated nurse leader; Each shift should have at least one registered nurse (RN) designated as the team leader; The majority of RNs providing patient care should hold a recognized post-registration qualification or certification in critical care; Critical care RN staffing should be assessed on a shift-by-shift basis according to patient acuity, the staffing profile, and unit need; An additional critical care RN, not counted in RN-to-patient ratios or allocated a patient load, may provide additional hands-on assistance in patient care, and coordinate other patient-related activities; Support staff (such as nursing and allied health assistants, nursing aides, and care assistants) should work only under the direct supervision of a critical care RN, and never in place of a critical care RN; Where institutionally supported, and in accordance with local legislation, a critical care RN may provide expert critical care consultancy; A critical care unit should be staffed to provide at least one senior nurse, who holds a recognized post-registration critical care qualification or certification, and ideally further qualifications in education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses the contributions and dedication of paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) nurses in caring for critically ill children and in the integration of family-centered care into critical care practice.

The author reflects on the quality of health care being received by patients as well as the importance of the presence of the patients' family members and relatives in intensive care units. It says that the presence of relatives have a nurturing effect on patients. However, it notes that family members are treated unwelcomingly on several units and are often excluded from important conversations due to what they believed as patient confidentiality.

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the author discusses articles published within the issue including one by Helle Svenningsen on the validation of the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units (CAM-ICU) and one by Irene Harth on the importance of family members' presence when the patient is critically ill.

The author reflects on the papers presented at the 6th annual congress of the World Federation of Critical Care Nurses (WFCCN) held in Florence, Italy. The author highlights the broad and diverse range of topics presented from the Irukandji jellyfish envonomation to ultrasound guided percutaneous arterial puncture for children. He also emphasizes the promotion of excellent opportunities for critical care nurses to improve patients' care.

The author reflects on the need for members of nursing association's members to use the term "intensive care." The author states that critical care is an umbrella term which is applied to depict a complete range of critical specialties, such as coronary care and emergency. The author says that organizations commonly much more particular to use terms as "cardiac care" or "intensive care."

The author discusses hospital beds and how they have changed over the years. He talks about the use of hospital beds in critical care settings and how the hospital bed can pose a risk to patients who may be sedated or disoriented. The risks of suffocation and strangulation are addressed, as well was ways to prevent falls and injury.

The author reflects on the safety of patient being administered by intensive care nurses. He relates a story of an intensive care nurse who described how senior nurse had failed to safely manage the endotracheal tube of a ventilated patient. He emphasizes that intensive care nurses should do everything for their patient's safety and report mistakes when found.

The article discusses various reports published within the issue including one about patient education and another about proper hospital care fpr critically ill patients.