Care bundles in critical care: a practical approach to evidence-based practice.

The care bundle is a new concept in critical care, which is currently being promoted by the National Health Service Modernisation Agency for Critical Care. Care bundles originated in North America and are described best as groups of evidence-based practice interventions. The theory behind care bundles is that when several evidence-based interventions are grouped together in a single protocol, it will improve patient outcome. Care bundles are relatively easy to develop, implement and audit, and provide practitioners with a practical method for implementing evidence-based practice. This article describes the care bundle and offers practical suggestions about how to develop, implement and audit them in practice.