Nurse-led discharge from high dependency unit.

High dependency care is a rapidly evolving area of critical care, with high patient turnover, which ultimately leads to high levels of pressure for beds. There is a growing trend emerging, recognizing the importance and value of nurse-led initiatives in delivering effective nursing care in acute care settings. One specific nurse-led initiative this author has developed is that of nurse-led discharge (NLD) from the high dependency unit (HDU), in order to optimize the utilization of critical care beds within the HDU. An audit of the current practice was undertaken, which ultimately led to the implementation of NLD. Early experiences indicate that HDU beds are now being used more effectively.