High Acuity Specialty Nursing Theory 2 NSHA 7200

Upon completion of this course, given patients experiencing increasingly complex acute illness experiences such as exacerbations of respiratory insufficiency/COPD, sepsis, acute brain injury, ACS, and heart failure, the student will be able to:

• Analyze advanced oxygen supply/demand concepts, including mechanisms of shock and neurological injury.
• Analyze mechanisms of increased intracranial pressure.
• Synthesize assessment and management of acute respiratory insufficiency.
• Evaluate ability to solve complex clinical/ethical decisions.
• Synthesize nursing care to suit the unique context of individuals and families.
• Evaluate short and long term transition planning for this patient population.
• Synthesize knowledge of pain management for high acuity patients.
• Synthesize knowledge of pharmacology for high acuity patients.

Course Learning Intentions

Through participation in this course, the student will have the opportunity to:

• Further develop an appreciation for the lived experience of acute and chronic illness.
• Further develop oral and written communication.
• Utilize multiple sources of knowledge and a spirit of inquiry in clinical/ethical decision making and problem solving.
• Utilize critical thinking in approaching clinical/ethical decision making and problem solving.
• Further develop professionalism in terms of patient advocacy and ethical care.
• Reflect on learning and growth.

Effective as of Fall 2003