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
$407.65 - $1,302.31 See individual course offerings below for actual costs.
International fees are typically 3.4 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
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
Fall 2026
Below are three offerings of NSCC 7120 for the Fall 2026 term.
CRN 41394
Dates
Sep 08 - Nov 27 Loading
- CRN 41394
- $1302.31 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 08 - Nov 27 | N/A | N/A | Online |
Duration
12 weeks
Instructor
TBD
Course outline
Important information
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
CRN 42177
Dates
Sep 08 - Nov 27 Loading
- CRN 42177
- $663.26 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 08 - Nov 27 | N/A | N/A | Online |
Duration
12 weeks
Instructor
TBD
Course outline
Registration requirements
Departmental approval is required to register for this course offering. You must have approval from the department to register. Students accepted into a program can register directly.
Important information
- Available for exam challenge only.
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- 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.
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
No approval yet? Request approval You must have approval from the department to register. Students accepted into a program can register directly.
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
CRN 42179
Dates
Sep 08 - Nov 27 Loading
- CRN 42179
- $407.65 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 08 - Nov 27 | N/A | N/A | Online |
Duration
12 weeks
Instructor
TBD
Course outline
Registration requirements
Departmental approval is required to register for this course offering. You must have approval from the department to register. Students accepted into a program can register directly.
Important information
- Available for re-registration (course extension) only.
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- 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.
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
No approval yet? Request approval You must have approval from the department to register. Students accepted into a program can register directly.
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.