Critical Care Nursing 1

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

170 hours

To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted in one of the Graduate Certificate in Nursing Practice (Critical Care). This subject is not available for students admitted in any other courses. Please contact the School of Melbourne Custom Programs for more information.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

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 programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit:
http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject is designed to provide the theoretical foundation for entry into specialty critical care nursing practice. Students will extend their understanding of general to systemic pathology of organ systems. This knowledge will be applied to the assessment and management of the critically ill patients. Patient and family perspectives of illness will be considered in the development and implementation of multidisciplinary care planning. Students will gain essential knowledge to plan, manage and monitor critical care interventions. They will apply scientific principles and research evidence underpinning the use of critical care therapies and identify signs and symptoms, clinical deterioration and life threatening.

On successful completion of this subject students will demonstrate theoretical knowledge in critical care nursing by:
1. Integrating core principles covered in the subject and its pre-requisite, Applied Pathophysiology,
to develop foundational knowledge in the principles of critical care assessment and management;
2. Applying knowledge and skills learnt in the subject to plan and implement evidence based specialist critical care nursing interventions;
3. Selecting and evaluating nursing interventions for critically ill patients.

Written assignment (1000 words) Week 5 - 20%
Written assignment (2000 words) Week 10 - 30%
4 Closed Book tests (Weeks 4, 7, 9, 12) - 50%

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 graduate coursework student:
1. A capacity to articulate their knowledge and understanding in written modes of communication;
2. A capacity to manage competing demands on time, including self-directed project work.
3. An ability to evaluate and synthesise the research and professional literature in the discipline.