Clinical tools

Your clinical toolkit

Calculators, scales and references nurses reach for every shift — including a deep ICU section for ventilation, ABGs, CRRT, sedation and delirium.

All tools

Every tool in one searchable grid.

Showing 23 of 23 tools
BMI
—
Enter height and weight to calculate.
BMI is a screening tool, not a diagnostic. Interpret alongside body composition and clinical context.
BSA
—
Enter height and weight.
BSA-based dosing is approximate — always cross-check against the regimen's preferred formula (Du Bois, Mosteller, Boyd).
Administer
—
Volume of stock (or number of tablets) to give.
Always double-check high-risk medications with a second nurse and the original order.
Pump rate
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Gravity drip
—
Drop factor is printed on the IV tubing package — confirm before relying on the gtt/min figure.
Estimated CrCl
—
Enter all fields to estimate.
Use lean or adjusted body weight in obesity. eGFR (CKD-EPI) is preferred for CKD staging.
Ideal Body Weight
—
Enter height
Adjusted Body Weight
—
Used when actual > 1.2 × IBW
Heights below 5 ft (152 cm) fall outside Devine's validated range — use clinical judgement.
Target tidal volume
—
Enter sex and height.
Pair with plateau pressure ≤ 30 cm H₂O. Reduce Vt toward 4 mL/kg if plateau exceeds target.

VC-AC (Volume Control, Assist Control)

Fixed Vt, every breath (mandatory or triggered).

Set
Tidal volume (Vt) · Rate · PEEP · FiO₂ · I:E or flow
Use
ARDS (lung-protective), most general ICU ventilation.
Pros
Guarantees minute ventilation; predictable Vt.
Watch
Pressure varies with compliance — monitor plateau ≤ 30 cm H₂O.

PC-AC (Pressure Control, Assist Control)

Fixed inspiratory pressure; Vt varies with compliance.

Set
Inspiratory pressure · Rate · PEEP · FiO₂ · I:E
Use
ARDS, paediatrics, post-op cardiac.
Pros
Lower peak pressures; better in stiff lungs.
Watch
Vt can fall as compliance worsens — watch tidal volume closely.

SIMV (Synchronized Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation)

Mandatory breaths synchronised with patient effort; spontaneous breaths in between.

Set
Vt or pressure · Rate · PS for spontaneous breaths · PEEP · FiO₂
Use
Weaning bridge (historic), some post-op pathways.
Pros
Allows spontaneous effort between mandatory breaths.
Watch
High WOB if PS is too low; less common as a primary mode today.

PRVC (Pressure Regulated Volume Control)

Targets a set Vt at the lowest pressure possible breath-to-breath.

Set
Vt target · Rate · PEEP · FiO₂ · Pressure limit
Use
Modern default in many ICUs.
Pros
Volume guarantee with pressure control’s comfort.
Watch
Reduces support as compliance improves — may mask deterioration.

CPAP / PS (Pressure Support)

Spontaneous breathing only; PS boosts each patient effort, CPAP holds airway open.

Set
PS level · PEEP / CPAP · FiO₂ · Trigger sensitivity
Use
Weaning, spontaneous breathing trials, OSA.
Pros
Comfortable; preserves diaphragm activity; ideal weaning mode.
Watch
Patient must have reliable respiratory drive; risk of apnoea if oversedated.

PC-BiPAP / BiLevel

Two pressure levels (Phigh / Plow) with spontaneous breathing allowed at both.

Set
Phigh · Plow · Thigh · Tlow · PS for spontaneous breaths · FiO₂
Use
ARDS, COPD, post-op, transition out of deep sedation.
Pros
Combines pressure-controlled ventilation with patient comfort and spontaneous breathing.
Watch
Pressure asynchrony if settings poorly tuned; monitor Vt and patient effort.

APRV (Airway Pressure Release Ventilation)

Prolonged Phigh with brief releases to Plow; spontaneous breathing throughout.

Set
Phigh · Plow · Thigh (long) · Tlow (short, 0.4–0.8 s) · FiO₂
Use
Refractory hypoxaemia, severe ARDS.
Pros
Recruits collapsed alveoli; can improve oxygenation in severe ARDS.
Watch
Auto-PEEP from short release; complex to titrate; sedation balance.

HFOV (High Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation)

Very small Vt at 3–15 Hz; constant mean airway pressure.

Set
Mean airway pressure · Frequency (Hz) · Amplitude (ΔP) · FiO₂
Use
Neonatal/paediatric refractory hypoxaemia (adults rarely).
Pros
Theoretical lung-protective ventilation in severe ARDS.
Watch
No evidence of benefit over conventional in adults (OSCAR/OSCILLATE); now rare.

NIV — BiPAP (non-invasive)

IPAP supports inspiration, EPAP holds airway open. Via mask.

Set
IPAP · EPAP · Rate (optional) · FiO₂
Use
COPD exacerbation, cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, post-extubation support.
Pros
Avoids intubation; great for COPD/CPE.
Watch
Mask fit, vomiting/aspiration risk, claustrophobia.

NIV — CPAP (non-invasive)

Single continuous pressure; entirely spontaneous breathing.

Set
CPAP · FiO₂
Use
Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, OSA, mild hypoxaemic failure.
Pros
Simple; recruits lungs; reduces preload in CPE.
Watch
No inspiratory support — not for fatigued patients.
Always confirm mode-specific settings against your unit's protocol and the patient's clinical trajectory.
Interpretation
—
Enter pH, PaCO₂ and HCO₃⁻ to interpret.
Always interpret alongside PaO₂, anion gap, lactate and the clinical picture.
MAP
—
Enter both systolic and diastolic values.
Sepsis bundle target is MAP ≥ 65 mmHg. Higher targets may be needed in chronic hypertension.
P/F ratio
—
Enter PaO₂ and FiO₂.
ARDS staging applies when PEEP ≥ 5 cm H₂O and the cause is not fully explained by cardiac failure.
GCS Total
15 / 15
Mild injury · E4 V5 M6
GCS ≤ 8 typically indicates the need for definitive airway management.
Assessment
0 Alert and calm
Spontaneously pays attention to caregiver.
Reassess at least every 4 hours and after any sedative titration. Pair with CAM-ICU for delirium screening.
Result
CAM-ICU negative
Delirium not present at this time.
Always start with a RASS assessment. If RASS is −4 or −5, the patient cannot be assessed for delirium.
CPOT total
0 / 8
No to mild pain
Self-report remains gold standard. Use CPOT only when patients cannot reliably communicate pain.
Total effluent
—
Enter weight + dose.
Citrate (4% solution)
—
Titrate to post-filter ionized Ca.
Replacement fluid
—
Pre- or post-filter
Dialysate
—
Counter-current to blood flow
Always confirm citrate dose against post-filter iCa and your unit's CRRT protocol. SCUF removes volume only — no solute clearance.
Bolus dose
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IV push over 1 min
Drip rate
—
Pump setting
—
Always titrate against aPTT or anti-Xa per your institution's nomogram. Many protocols cap bolus at 10,000 units.
Oral MME
—
Standardised reference.
Equianalgesic dose
—
As Morphine — PO
Recommended start
—
After 30% reduction
Always apply incomplete cross-tolerance reduction (25–50 %) when rotating, and reassess pain within 24 hr.
QTc
—
Enter QT and HR to calculate.
Bazett over-corrects at high rates and under-corrects at low rates — prefer Fridericia outside HR 60–100.
Hourly rate
—
4-2-1 rule
24-hour total
—
100-50-20 rule
Use isotonic fluids (0.9% saline or balanced) per modern paediatric guidance. Adjust for ongoing losses, fever and clinical state.
Raw dose
—
Pre-cap
Administer
—
Within weight-based dose
Volume
—
From concentration
Always double-check paediatric doses against a current formulary and have a second clinician verify high-risk medications.
Result
—
Conversions are mathematical; always reconcile against the medication order before administering.
AnalyteReference rangeClinical note
Sodium (Na+)135-145 mEq/LHyponatremia/Hypernatremia
Potassium (K+)3.5-5.0 mEq/LCardiac arrhythmias risk
Chloride (Cl-)98-106 mEq/L—
Bicarbonate (HCO3-)22-28 mEq/LAcid-base status
Calcium (Ca2+)8.5-10.5 mg/dLTetany/arrhythmia
Magnesium (Mg2+)1.5-2.5 mEq/LNeuromuscular, torsades
Creatinine0.6-1.3 mg/dLRenal function
BUN7-20 mg/dLRenal perfusion
Glucose (fasting)70-99 mg/dLDM screening
HemoglobinM 13.5-17.5 / F 12-16 g/dLAnemia
Platelets150-400 x10^3/µLBleeding risk
WBC4-11 x10^3/µLInfection/inflammation
pH (arterial)7.35-7.45Acid-base balance
PaCO235-45 mmHgRespiratory component
HCO3- (ABG)22-26 mEq/LMetabolic component
PaO280-100 mmHg (room air)Oxygenation
SaO2≥95%Oxygen saturation
Lactate0.5-2.0 mmol/LTissue hypoperfusion
Base Excess−2 to +2 mEq/LMetabolic status
Reference ranges vary by lab and patient population. Always cross-check the lab’s reported range.

These tools are study and practice aids. They are not a substitute for clinical judgement, organisational policy or pharmacist verification of high-risk medications.