Course Overview
This modified clinical course is intended for nurses that have completed either NSHA 7300 or NSER 7500 (based on their previous clinical hours in either High Acuity nursing or Emergency nursing) or with permission of the Program Head for Critical Care Nursing. This course occurs in an intensive care unit or mixed cardiac care/ intensive care unit. Clinical practice experiences build toward independent nursing care for stable, critically ill patients experiencing a variety of critical illnesses [e.g. acute coronary syndrome, acute respiratory insufficiency and failure, acute kidney injury, hemodynamic instability (including shock states), acute decompensated heart failure, hypovolemic shock and sepsis]. Specific attention will be given to the unique challenges of caring for chronically critically ill patients, for families of critically ill patients and collaborative practice within the interdisciplinary team. Relevant patients will include those experiencing noninvasive or mechanical ventilation, cardiac and invasive hemodynamic monitoring, common laboratory and diagnostic processes, and active intervention intended to optimize oxygen supply and demand balance. Primary patient issues will be predominately in one system, with other physiological systems minimally or potentially impacted. Learners also complete a one day Lab related to Cardiac Arrest Management. While NSCC 7421 is generally a clinical teacher led course, in unique situations it is possible to complete this course as a preceptorship.
Prerequisite(s)
Credits
4.0
- Retired
- This course has been retired and is no longer offered. Find other Flexible Learning courses that may interest you.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
- Complete independent, systematic, appropriate comprehensive assessment of critically ill patients including data collected from patients and family, monitoring, and diagnostic processes.
- Demonstrate competence with nursing management of cardiac and invasive hemodynamic monitoring (arterial and central venous pressures) and mechanical ventilation.
- Use critical care nursing knowledge and relevant thinking processes to:
- Analyse collected data and form conclusions related to patients’ oxygen supply and demand balance and overall condition.
- Prioritize concerns related to patients’ oxygen supply and demand balance.
- Select, evaluate and provide rationale for therapeutic interventions intended to optimize oxygen supply and demand balance.
- Document and articulate assessment findings and patient, family and nursing concerns in a systematic and comprehensive manner.
- Expand communication skills to include those required to participate in dialogue with critically ill patients, family members, and the health care team.
- Independently make clinical decisions and provide safe, competent & ethical nursing care for stable, critically ill patients consistent with best practices, family centered-care, and interdisciplinary collaboration with the health care team.
- Collaborate with nursing colleagues to provide nursing care for family consistent with best practices, family centered-care, and interdisciplinary collaboration with the health care team.
- Develop awareness of the relevance of relational nursing practice and ethical theory for critical care nursing practice.
- Actively engage in planning for and working toward professional growth as a critical care nurse.
Effective as of Spring/Summer 2015
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.