NURSING PRACTICE IN URGENT AND EMERGENCY CARE FOR CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS ADMITTED TO THE ICU

Abstract

This study addresses the performance of the nursing team in the continuous flow of urgent and emergency care until the admission of critically ill patients to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The objective is to analyze the skills, interventions, challenges, and contributions of nursing in this context, based on scientific evidence published between 2023 and 2026. This is an integrative literature review, conducted in the SciELO, LILACS, MEDLINE/PubMed, and BDENF databases, following PRISMA guidelines. The results show that nursing plays a central role: from triage, initial stabilization, application of advanced life support protocols, to continuous monitoring, prevention of complications, and coordination with the multidisciplinary team in the ICU. Timely interventions aligned with updated guidelines reduce mortality, length of stay, and adverse events. However, challenges remain such as staff shortages, workload overload, and the need for continuing education. It is concluded that qualified nursing practice is essential for safety and quality of care for critically ill patients, and must be strengthened by institutional policies and professional recognition (LIMA et al., 2024; PEREIRA et al., 2026).