Education, training, and use of unlicensed assistive personnel in critical care.

The integration of the role of UAP in critical care requires a long-term commitment to patient centered care by the professional nursing staff. Standardized education and training of professional nurses and UAP, support for nurses who orient UAP, support for the PCTs who precept, and a supporting infrastructure promote integration of UAP in critical care with positive outcomes. The education of UAP does not conclude with orientation. Education, training, and competency revalidation should be ongoing to broaden individuals' knowledge base and enhance skills. The monitoring and evaluation of programs with timely modifications will support or enhance effectiveness of the programs.