Critical Care Nursing Theory 3 Modified NSCC 7321

This theory course is intended for nurses who have completed NSCC 7310: Critical Care Nursing Clinical 1 (previous curriculum) and are transitioning into the revised curriculum. Learners expand their understanding of critical care nursing practice by exploring family-centered care and interdisciplinary collaborative practice in critical care settings. Learners build knowledge related to supporting oxygen supply and demand balance for critically ill patients by exploring theory of mechanical ventilation and management of metabolic and oxygen demand. The course focuses on pathophysiology, assessment and management of a variety of ‘single-system’ critical illnesses presented within narrative cases of patients and families in a variety of critical care settings. Narrative cases focus on acute respiratory failure and care of chronically, critically ill patients/family and hemodynamic instability: SIRS/sepsis. The narrative cases also provide context for learners to apply theory of patients’ and families experiences of critical illness, develop clinical decision-making processes that support effective patient and family care, and to build understanding of interprofessional collaborative practice within critical care environments.