Foundations in Acute & Critical Care 1

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

On campus and field practice

In addition to the subject contact hours, students are expected to devote approximately 9 hours a week to this subject.
Students can anticipate a time commitment of approximately 24 hours per week concurrent field practice.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's courses. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting this requirement are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Course Coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

This subject is designed to promote the integration of theoretical and practical aspects of specialty nursing to support safe practice in caring for patients across the lifespan who are acutely or critically ill.

Students will become familiar with the unique environments of individual critical care practice settings and learn essential knowledge and skills to prepare, manage and 'trouble-shoot' equipment and technology required for patient care. They will learn the scientific principles and research evidence underpinning practice as well as the technical skills necessary to complete an admission assessment, understand admission findings, and identify patients at risk of life threatening complications. In the context of their practice as beginning level specialty nurses students will become familiar with immediate interventions required to establish and maintain patient stability, including, but not limited to life support techniques. The underpinning biological basis and evidence based principles behind treatment and symptom management (including pharmacology) of diseases/illnesses commonly treated in each critical care practice setting will be described.

Students engage in field practice in specific critical care environments to address learning objectives focussing on the application of theoretical knowledge to skill development and the practice of caring for patients who are acutely and/or critically ill.

Students will be expected to be able to demonstrate their beginning specialty nursing practice through:

• integration of the theoretical content covered within the subject to develop new knowledge that supports safe practice as a beginning specialty nurse in the acute and critical care practice setting;
• the ability to integrate knowledge and skills learnt in the subject to recognise and plan a response to patients experiencing alterations to health and wellness that occur in the specific context of acute and critical care environments;
• the ability to understand and evaluate specialised interventions as described in the subject content to provide a foundation for participating in the delivery of care at the beginning level of acute and critical care nursing practice;
• the capacity to use skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, rational inquiry and self-directed learning to apply knowledge learnt in the theoretical component of the subject to beginning level acute and critical care nursing clinical practice;
• an understanding of the changing knowledge base in the specialist area;
• the ability to apply scientific knowledge to understand skills and techniques applicable to the specialist area.

Theoretical Component 60%

1. Written assignment of 2000 words due week 5 (25%)

2. Closed book, 3 hour written examination at the end of semester (35%)

Clinical Component 40%

3. A professional practice portfolio which must include evidence of clinical competency achievement and is equivalent to 3,000 words due by the end of semester (40%)

Students must achieve a pass in both the theoretical and clinical component in order to pass the subject.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of the subject students should have developed the following generic skills of the Melbourne graduate and postgraduate coursework student:

• a capacity to articulate their knowledge and understanding in oral and written modes of communication;
• a capacity to manage competing demands on time, including self-directed project work.

This subject has a multi-media tutorial component delivered via the University's on-line Learning Management System (LMS). Students must have access to appropriate computer facilities and the Internet.