- International Fees
International fees are typically 3.25 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
Course Overview
This introductory course establishes the core principles of critical care nursing, providing a strong foundation for practice in this fast-paced and complex environment. It begins with an exploration of key factors influencing clinical decision-making, including the specialized role of critical care nurses, the complexities of critical illness, the depth of knowledge required to understand each patient’s condition, and the lived experiences of both patients and healthcare professionals within the field. Learners will be introduced to the Oxygen Supply and Demand Framework (OSDF), and a structured approach that supports systematic assessment and clinical reasoning. By emphasizing the balance between oxygen supply and demand, the OSDF helps organize assessment findings and strengthens clinical judgment—essential skills for managing critically ill patients. Building on this foundation, the course advances into arterial blood gas analysis and hemodynamic assessment, equipping learners with the skills needed to interpret and respond to increasingly complex patient needs.
Prerequisite(s)
- No prerequisites are required for this course.
Credits
4.0
Domestic fees
$399.37 - $1,276.49 See individual course offerings below for actual costs.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Analyze critical care nursing with respect to the role and experience of the nurse, context of practice, nature of illness, and experience of the patient.
- Apply the clinical decision-making framework to support decision-making.
- Identify the components, process, and rationale for a comprehensive assessment in critical care.
- Analyze arterial blood gases and integrate results into the comprehensive assessment of critically ill patients.
- Integrate hemodynamic assessment findings into the comprehensive assessment of critically ill patients.
- Integrate comprehensive assessment cues, including arterial blood gas interpretation and hemodynamic monitoring, into the oxygen supply and demand framework to form judgements about balance.
Effective as of Spring/Summer 2025
Related Programs
Critical Care Nursing Theory 1 (NSCC 7120) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
School of Health Sciences
- Critical Care Nursing Specialty (Combined Critical Care/Emergency Option)
Advanced Certificate Part-time
- Critical Care Nursing Specialty
Advanced Certificate Part-time
- Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Full-time
- Specialty Nursing (Critical Care - Combined Critical Care/Emergency Option)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Part-time
- Specialty Nursing (Critical Care - Standard Option)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Part-time
Course Offerings
Winter 2026
Below are three offerings of NSCC 7120 for the Winter 2026 term.
CRN 83109
Dates
Jan 05 - Mar 27 Loading
- CRN 83109
- $649.97 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 05 - Mar 27 | N/A | N/A | Online |
Duration
12 weeks
Instructor
Jasmine Yong
Course outline
Important information
- Available for exam challenge only.
- Departmental approval needed
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- International fees are typically 3.25 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
- This is a challenge section designed for learners who have previous ICU or Critical Care Nursing experience and wish to challenge the course by writing the challenge exam. Contact Program Assistant at jenna_coroliuc@bcit.ca for approval to register.
Status
CRN 83110
Dates
Jan 05 - Mar 27 Loading
- CRN 83110
- $1276.49 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 05 - Mar 27 | N/A | N/A | Online |
Duration
12 weeks
Instructor
Sarah Crowe
Course outline
Important information
- Internet delivery format.
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- International fees are typically 3.25 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
Status
CRN 83112
Dates
Jan 05 - Mar 27 Loading
- CRN 83112
- $399.37 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 05 - Mar 27 | N/A | N/A | Online |
Duration
12 weeks
Instructor
Sarah Crowe
Course outline
Important information
- Available for re-registration (course extension) only.
- Departmental approval needed
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- International fees are typically 3.25 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
- Re-registration is for students who require a course extension to complete their course from the previous term. Re-registration is a one-time option only. Contact Program Assistant at jenna_coroliuc@bcit.ca for approval to register.
Status
Spring/Summer 2026
Below are three offerings of NSCC 7120 for the Spring/Summer 2026 term.
CRN 64004
Dates
Apr 07 - Jun 26 Loading
- CRN 64004
- $649.97 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 07 - Jun 26 | N/A | N/A | Distance |
Duration
12 weeks
Instructor
TBD
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- Available for exam challenge only.
- Departmental approval needed
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- International fees are typically 3.25 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
- This is a challenge section designed for learners who have previous ICU or Critical Care Nursing experience and wish to challenge the course by writing the challenge exam. Contact Program Assistant at jenna_coroliuc@bcit.ca for approval to register.
Status
CRN 64005
Dates
Apr 07 - Jun 26 Loading
- CRN 64005
- $1276.49 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 07 - Jun 26 | N/A | N/A | Online |
Duration
12 weeks
Instructor
TBD
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- Internet delivery format.
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- International fees are typically 3.25 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
Status
CRN 64007
Dates
Apr 07 - Jun 26 Loading
- CRN 64007
- $399.37 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 07 - Jun 26 | N/A | N/A | Distance |
Duration
12 weeks
Instructor
TBD
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- Available for re-registration (course extension) only.
- Departmental approval needed
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- International fees are typically 3.25 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
- Re-registration is for students who require a course extension to complete their course from the previous term. Re-registration is a one-time option only. Contact Program Assistant at jenna_coroliuc@bcit.ca for approval to register.
Status
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice.