Specialty Nursing (Emergency - Combined Emergency/Critical Care Option)

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.

Introduces emergency nursing and focuses on client perspectives of care in emergency settings. Provides opportunities to explore the concept of partnership with clients, families, and health care professionals in a time limited, changing environment. Introduces emergency skills such as assessment, urgency determination, and diagnostic reasoning. Provides opportunities to work through common, less complex emergency client presentations in the form of case studies, identifying concepts key to emergency nursing. Emphasizes examination of pathophysiology, assessment and decision-making. Students are given opportunities to work both individually and collaboratively, and will be expected to participate in group activities throughout this course.
Prerequisite(s):

• 75% in NSCC 7150

This course builds on concepts presented in Theory 1 such as critical thinking, assessment, and level of urgency. Students are given opportunities to work individually and collaboratively through complex emergency patient presentations, identifying concepts key to emergency nursing. Pathophysiology, assessment, and decision making related to shock, pediatrics, mental health, substance use, acute coronary syndrome, and cardiac arrest will be explored. Students will be expected to participate in group activities throughout this course.
Prerequisite(s):

• 75% in NSER 7110 and 75% in NSCC 7150

Nurses develop and begin to enact their role in emergency nursing by exploring an emergency environment and assessing influences pertaining to patient and family health. Building upon theory and frameworks from the preceding courses, nurses focus on developing comprehensive assessment skills and applying this knowledge in the care of patients and families. Effective clinical decision making in the context of common, less acute patient presentations is another focus of this clinical experience. In addition, nurses will develop and foster collaborative relationships with patients, families, colleagues, instructors, and other health care providers. The development of critical thinking, systematic inquiry, and communication skills will be emphasized throughout this course.​
Prerequisite(s):

• 75% in NSER 7210

An introduction to the care of critically ill patients, this course focuses on the knowledge, values, and beliefs central to the practice of nursing patients who experience life-threatening injuries. Throughout this course, students explore key concepts related to resuscitation including primary assessment and interventions and mechanism of injury. In addition, there is a strong focus on the needs of special populations. Pathophysiology, urgency determination, clinical reasoning, and patient assessment continue to be a focus for learning.
Prerequisite(s):

• 75% in NSER 7210

Building on knowledge and skills acquired in previous theory and clinical courses, nurses continue to develop understanding and apply reflective practice to their role as emergency nurses. Broad perspectives of communities, environment, and health care resources are incorporated into nurses' understanding of health assessment and emergency nursing care. With a focus on a diversity of complex health care challenges and issues arising in emergency practice, nurses use systematic frameworks and reflective problem solving to gain knowledge, make and evaluate clinical judgements, and examine and challenge practice. Developing confidence in the provision of competent emergency nursing care for complex patients is central to this course. Communication skills and relationship building strategies are emphasized as nurses assume an active role in creating partnerships with patients and families and participating in multi-member/interdisciplinary teams. This clinical experience will integrate knowledge and skills gained from workshops/laboratories such as cardiac arrest management and trauma care with clinical practice. Specifically, this course focuses student learning on caring for patients experiencing unstable, complex health challenges. ​
Prerequisite(s):

• S in NSER 7300 and 75% in NSER 7410

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

The course provides an overview of the basic skills of a manager and applies these skills through a series of projects and case studies. It examines the evolution of management and the organizational culture and environment. It also teaches the decision-making skills and the skills involved in planning, organizing, leading and controlling, including planning and facilitating change, teamwork, applying motivational techniques and effective communication.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Introduces diverse perspectives on teaching and learning related to specialty nursing and explores the impact that connected teacher-learner relationships have on effective learning. Teaching and learning are viewed as mutual and parallel processes, being influenced by beliefs, intentions, and capacities of both teachers and learners. Teaching and learning abilities are further developed according to mutually agreed upon learning outcomes and intentions.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

In this online course, learners explore how research informs evidence-based nursing practice. Foundational research concepts and processes in quantitative and qualitative paradigms are examined. Learners critique primary research reports of interest, both individually and in groups, and address research utilization in practice.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This on-line course offers students the opportunity to develop their leadership knowledge and skills within the context of specialty nursing. Leadership is explored from multiple perspectives with an emphasis on contemporary theories and frameworks. Topics that are examined include followership, contextual influences, power, navigating change and transitions, and teambuilding. Students engage in a work related leadership project to apply leadership knowledge and skills to their practice.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Professional growth is explored from personal, professional, and historical perspectives. Students choose a focus for growth which is fostered by ongoing critical reflection and journaling. Relational practice is explored through the lenses of mentoring and harmful workplace relationships. Contemporary trends in ethical practice are examined, including the contextual influences on practice; the development of moral identity; and the enhancement of moral integrity. An anticipated trajectory for professional development is envisioned and described.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course explores contemporary community health nursing, examining multiple perspectives on community, health, and relational practice. Community health nursing is examined through the lenses of primary health care, health promotion, and ethics. Clinical practice is focused on facilitating participatory dialogue with a selected group to explore perspectives on relational practice in health care.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Based on the Canadian Community Health Nursing Standards of Practice, this course provides opportunities for exploring contemporary perspectives on health promotion, protection of health, a community health nursing process, and participatory decision making. Clinical experience occurs through engaging in participatory dialogue with a selected group; exploring salient health issues; and facilitating collective health action.
Prerequisite(s):

• 75% in NSSC 8600

This course is an introduction to the dynamic forces which enhance effective communication between persons from various cultural backgrounds, primarily in a professional setting. By helping students to develop a truly international perspective, COMM 7100 encourages intercultural communication competency, otherwise known as ICC. Due to rapid globalization, ICC is not an option, but a necessity.
Prerequisite(s):

• 6 credits of COMM 1100 level or above, or 3 credits of university/college writing course.

This course introduces students to contemporary issues in health ethics by examining and applying ethical theories to moral dilemmas at the clinical, professional, and organizational levels. To this end, developing competence in moral reasoning is an important goal, one that will be emphasized through the analysis of case studies that test personal, professional, and societal values.
Prerequisite(s):

• BCIT ENGL 1177, or 6 credits BCIT Communication at 1100-level or above, or 3 credits of a university/college first-year social science or humanities course.