The course supports the development of fundamental knowledge required to systematically analyze and interpret basic cardiac dysrhythmias. Participants will explore myocardial electrophysiology in relation to cardiac monitoring and develop a systematic approach to dysrhythmia analysis and interpretation. Further, participants will consider the predisposing factors and associated interventions related to the conduction defect present and the consequences of the dysrhythmia to both systemic and myocardial oxygen supply and demand. Finally, the significance of dysrhythmia analysis, interpretation, and management to critical care nursing practice will be explored. Although this course is conducted within the specific context of critical care nursing practice, IT WOULD ALSO BE SUITABLE FOR THE OTHER NURSES OR QUALIFIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS REQUIRING THIS SKILL. If you are not a registered nurse or a student nurse in the final years of your BSN program you must consult the Critical Care Nursing Program Head prior to registration.

Critical Care Nursing Theory 2 is intended to expand your ways of knowing, being, and doing in critical care nursing. Specifically, this course will provide opportunity to explore foundational knowledge of relational family practice and ethical practice within the context of critical care nursing. You will have the opportunity to expand your knowledge related to strategies employed to optimize a patient’s oxygen supply using advanced hemodynamic monitoring and mechanical ventilation. Managing a patient’s metabolic and oxygen demand will be introduced as a key concept in the critical care context. You will apply concepts learned in this course to a patient experiencing acute respiratory failure including pneumonia with progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Prerequisites: NSCC 7310

This 125 hour clinical course is designed for nurses completing a combined critical care and emergency certificate. Participants focus on applying and integrating nursing knowledge to provide nursing care for critically ill patients and their families experiencing acute respiratory failure, sepsis, and hemodynamic challenges including shock. Learners have opportunities to further develop their comprehensive assessment skills by providing safe, competent, and ethical nursing care. Theory will be integrated in relation to selecting and evaluating therapeutic interventions focusing on clinical decision making with increasingly complex patients. Learners will progress to independence in decision making and critical care nursing practice with stable mechanically ventilated patients. Learners will continue to work in collaboration for decision making with patients who are unstable, or experiencing complex critical illness. Working in partnership with patients and families, learners will develop an understanding of unique patient and family situations. Learners will actively participate in the provision of family centered care, ethics in practice, and best practices in specific patient situations. Laboratory experiences will include experiences related to practice skills related to intubation, mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic monitoring, and cardiac arrest management. Within the course a written assignment will focus on furthering knowledge of patients with sepsis. Prerequisites: NSCC 7410. As well as providing this information at the time of admission, BCIT requires students to provide proof of CRNBC membership for each clinical course they enrol in. Without CRNBC registration, you will not be permitted to continue in the course.

Introduces emergency nursing and focuses on client perspectives of care in emergency settings. Provides opportunities to explore the concept of partnership with clients, families, and health care professionals in a time limited, changing environment. Introduces emergency skills such as assessment, urgency determination, and diagnostic reasoning. Provides opportunities to work through common, less complex emergency client presentations in the form of case studies, identifying concepts key to emergency nursing. Emphasizes examination of pathophysiology, assessment and decision-making. Prerequisites: NSCC 7150

This course builds on concepts presented in Theory 1 such as critical thinking, assessment, and level of urgency. Students are given opportunities to work through complex emergency patient presentations through case studies, identifying concepts key to emergency nursing. Pathophysiology, assessment, and decision making related to shock, pediatrics, mental health, substance use, acute coronary syndrome, and cardiac arrest will be explored. Prerequisites: 75% in NSER 7110 and NSCC 7150

Nurses develop and begin to enact their role in emergency nursing by exploring an emergency environment and assessing influences pertaining to patient and family health. Building upon theory and frameworks from the preceding courses, nurses focus on developing comprehensive assessment skills and applying this knowledge in the care of patients and families. Effective clinical decision making in the context of common, less acute patient presentations is another focus of this clinical experience. In addition, nurses will develop and foster collaborative relationships with patients, families, colleagues, instructors, and other health care providers. The development of critical thinking, systematic inquiry, and communication skills will be emphasized throughout this course. Clinical placements will be available in either a three and one-half week block or on a part-time basis over eight weeks. Prerequisites: NSER 7210

An introduction to the care of critically ill patients, this course focuses on the knowledge, values, and beliefs central to the practice of nursing patients who experience life-threatening injuries. Throughout this course, students explore key concepts related to resuscitation including primary assessment and interventions and mechanism of injury. In addition, there is a strong focus on the needs of special populations. Pathophysiology, urgency determination, clinical reasoning, and patient assessment continue to be a focus for learning. Prerequisites: 75% in NSER 7210

Building on knowledge and skills acquired in previous theory and clinical courses, nurses continue to develop understanding and apply reflective practice to their role as emergency nurses. Broad perspectives of communities, environment, and health care resources are incorporated into nurses’ understanding of health assessment and emergency nursing care. With a focus on a diversity of complex health care challenges and issues arising in emergency practice, nurses use systematic frameworks and reflective problem solving to gain knowledge, make and evaluate clinical judgements, and examine and challenge practice. Developing confidence in the provision of competent emergency nursing care for complex patients is central to this course. Communication skills and relationship building strategies are emphasized as nurses assume an active role in creating partnerships with patients and families and participating in multi-member/interdisciplinary teams. This clinical experience will integrate knowledge and skills gained from workshops/laboratories such as cardiac arrest management and trauma care with clinical practice. Specifically, this course focuses student learning on caring for patients experiencing unstable, complex health challenges. This course may be done on a part-time or full-time basis. Prerequisites: NSER 7410