Critical Care Nursing Specialty

This introductory course welcomes learners to the fundamental principles of critical care nursing practice. It begins with an exploration of key factors that shape decision-making within this dynamic environment. These factors include an understanding of critical care nursing as a profession, what it means to be critically ill, the level of knowledge required to grasp each patient's unique condition, the lived experience of patients and families, and our personal experience as professionals within the field. Learners are introduced to the Oxygen Supply and Demand Framework (OSDF), which serves as a structured guide for the systematic analysis and interpretation of comprehensive assessment findings, emphasizing the critical balance between oxygen supply and demand for optimal physiological functioning . The OSDF supports learners with organization of assessment cues and sound clinical judgments that are essential for advanced decision-making. Foundational respiratory and cardiovascular assessments are elevated to the critical care level through the introduction of arterial blood gas analysis and advanced hemodynamic assessment. Note: You must achieve a minimum of 75% in each evaluative component to qualify for registration in NSCC 7220
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course supports the development of fundamental knowledge required to systematically analyze and interpret basic cardiac dysrhythmias. Learners will explore myocardial electrophysiology in relation to cardiac monitoring and develop a systematic approach to dysrhythmia analysis and interpretation. Learners will also consider the predisposing factors of all conduction defects and the consequences of dysrhythmias to both systemic and myocardial oxygen supply and demand. Additionally, interventions for dysrhythmias are also discussed. Lastly, the significance of dysrhythmia analysis, interpretation, and management to critical care nursing practice will be explored. Though this course is conducted within the specific context of critical care nursing practice, it is also suitable for other nurses or qualified health professionals requiring this skill. If you are not a registered nurse or a student nurse in the final years of your BSN program, you must consult the Critical Care Nursing Program Head before registration. Health professionals who are not nurses may register for this course with the approval of the Critical Care Nursing Specialty Program Head. If you are registering in the NSCC, NSHA or NSER nursing program, follow the program course matrix. Program Head approval is required to take NSCC 7150 as a co-requisite with NSCC 7120, NSCC 7220, NSHA 7100, or NSER 7110. To be successful in the course, learners must achieve 75% or higher on each evaluative component in the course.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Learners expand their understanding of critical care nursing practice by exploring family-centered care and interdisciplinary collaborative practice in critical care settings. Two narrative cases of patients and families experiencing critical illness (acute coronary syndrome and first-line management of myocardial infarction; acute respiratory insufficiency) build relevant critical care nursing knowledge and integrate theoretical concepts presented in other modules and in previous courses. Over the last four weeks of the course, learners complete 25 hours of simulation and supervised clinical practice experience: Concept-focused clinical learning experiences include comprehensive assessment, hemodynamic and cardiac monitoring management, dysrhythmia recognition and management, application of oxygen supply and demand theory, beginning exploration of family centered care and interdisciplinary collaboration in critical care, and care of patients experiencing ACS (first line management) and respiratory insufficiency. Please note, learners must be Registered Nurses to take this course. Please note: You must achieve 75% or greater to register in the next Critical Care Nursing course, NSCC 7320.
Prerequisite(s):

• 75% in NSCC 7120 and 75% in NSCC 7150

Learners build knowledge related to supporting oxygen supply and demand balance for critically ill patients by exploring theory of mechanical ventilation, advanced oxygen supply and demand assessment, and management of metabolic and oxygen demand. The remainder of 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 kidney injury, acute respiratory failure and care of chronically, critically ill patients/family, and hemodynamic instability (including shock states) arising from hypovolemic shock, acute decompensated heart failure, and SIRS/sepsis. The narrative cases also provide context for learners to build understanding 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. Please note, learners must be Registered Nurses to take this course. Please note: You must achieve 75% or greater to register in the next Critical Care Nursing course, NSCC 7420.
Prerequisite(s):

• 75% in NSCC 7220

This clinical course occurs in an intensive care unit of mixed cardiac care/intensive care unit. Clinical practice experiences build toward independence in providing independent nursing care for stable*, critically ill patients and families 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 predominantly in one system, with other physiological systems minimally or potentially impacted. Learners also complete a one day Lab related to Cardiac Arrest Management: in team-based high fidelity simulations, learners have an opportunity to apply relevant theory (e.g. ACLS algorithms) and to practice skills required for recognition and intervention for life threatening dysrhythmias. While NSCC 7420 is generally a clinical teacher led course, in unique situations it is possible to complete this course as a preceptorship. [*The stable patient is defined as one with 'potential to change or experiencing gradually evolving changes in condition.*] Please note, learners must be Registered Nurses to take this course. Please note: You must achieve a successful grade to register in the next Critical Care Nursing course, NSCC 7520.
Prerequisite(s):

• 75% in NSCC 7320
• Completed clinical application and practicing RN license

Learners expand their understanding of critical care nursing practice by exploring ethical dimensions of critical care nursing practice, including moral distress, medical futility, participation in ethical decision-making, and end-of-life decision-making and patient/family care. These concepts are applied within narrative cases of patients/families experiencing complex, critical illness. Narrative cases also provide an opportunity for learners to explore pathophysiology, assessment and management related to patients and families experiencing multitrauma (including initial management of spinal cord injury), traumatic brain injury, stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage, complex critical illness (sepsis) including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), hepatic insufficiency, and fluid/electrolyte/acid-base imbalances. As learners follow the stories of these patients, they continue to build understanding of patients' and families' experiences of critical illness, of interprofessional collaborative practice and ethical nursing practice within critical care environments, and develop clinical decision-making processes that support effective patient and family care. Finally, learners will complete a module related to a patient experiencing one of the following critical illnesses: multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, cardiogenic shock, cardiac surgery, surgery and post-anesthesia, or explore critical care nursing in rural or community settings. Please note, learners must be Registered Nurses to take this course. Please note: You must achieve 75% or greater to register in the next Critical Care Nursing course, NSCC 7620.
Prerequisite(s):

• S in NSCC 7420

This course occurs in an intensive care unit. Clinical practice experiences will build toward independence in providing nursing care for unstable* critically ill patients and/or patients experiencing complex critical illness**, as well as their families [e.g. multitrauma, spinal injury and traumatic brain injury, stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage, and SIRS/sepsis/MODS, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and hepatic insufficiency and fluid/electrolyte/acid-base imbalances]. Relevant patients will be experiencing a variety of modes and issues related to mechanical ventilation, cardiac and invasive hemodynamic monitoring, a variety of diagnostic processes, and multiple interventions intended to optimize oxygen supply and demand balance. Primary patient issues will be present in more than one physiological system and will impact other systems. Learners will participate in a one day Lab focused on Cardiac Arrest Management: In team-based, high fidelity simulations, learners have an opportunity to explore common challenges in cardiac arrest management (including more complex patient scenarios, team roles and management, pitfalls in cardiac arrest management situations) and to consider the impact for nurses of participating in cardiac arrest management situations. While NSCC 7620 is generally a clinical teacher led course, in unique situations it is possible to complete this course as a preceptorship. [*Unstable patient is defined as "experiencing obvious and active changes in condition, but not extremely rapid change". **Complex patient is defined as "experiencing multi-system critical illness"]. Please note, learners must be Registered Nurses to take this course.
Prerequisite(s):

• 75% in NSCC 7520
• Completed clinical application and practicing RN license