NUR5923 · Intensive care nursing 1

Overview

In this unit you will apply your knowledge of pathophysiology to develop advanced assessment and a core set of nursing care skills required for the management of the critically ill patient with single organ failure. This unit will support your learning of specialist knowledge and skills that enable you to assess, implement and evaluate appropriate nursing and pharmacological interventions. These will be required for you to safely manage patients with common critical illnesses, who may be receiving non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, haemodynamic monitoring, renal replacement therapy and/or other life-supporting technologies. This unit also explores the role of the specialist ICU registered nurse in contemporary, advanced nursing practice. You will learn about the importance of the role in working and communicating with the multidisciplinary ICU team. Nursing care in ICU is underpinned by a model of holistic, patient-and family-centred care. Therefore, you will also gain a deeper understanding of how to apply your newly acquired ICU nursing skills while remaining patient-and family centred.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

Assessment in this unit includes hurdle assessment tasks. Failure of any hurdle assessment task may result in failure of the unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Perform clinically at the minimum required standard in accordance with the Australian College of Critical Care Nurses (ACCCN) Practice Standards for Specialist Critical Care Nurses.
2. Evaluate pathophysiological processes and patient assessment data to inform a plan of care for critically ill patients requiring intensive care.
3. Formulate and implement integrated patient- and family-centred care plans, incorporating priority patient problems, evidence-based therapeutic interventions and management strategies for critically ill patients.
4. Assess the socio-cultural, legal and ethical issues related to the nursing management of critically ill patients and their families or significant others.
5. Employ professional and empathetic communication skills and behaviours in all interactions with critically ill patients, their families and the multidisciplinary Intensive Care Unit (ICU) team.

Workload

24 hours per week of teacher facilitated and self directed study, including tutorials and online activities. Please refer to Moodle for tutorial types and requirements.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.