Unit rationale, description and aim
Specialist cardiac nursing requires a foundation understanding of scientific concepts that support the management and care of people who present to the specialist cardiac/coronary care setting with chronic, acute and complex cardiac conditions. These scientific concepts support evidence based best practice and clinical reasoning in the cardiac setting. In this unit, students will further develop their understanding of the pathophysiology associated with coronary conditions and deviations from the norm associated with cardiac disease processes within their specialty practice. These concepts assist student analysis, and evaluation of the relevant disease process and impact on patients and their family, that support an understanding of the application and development of an appropriate plan of care using the nursing process.
This unit is required by students to assist their understanding of the pathophysiology of complex cardiac and cardiothoracic conditions and diseases and the scientific concepts underlying complex treatments. Selection of content is based on best practice in the management and care of patients presenting with complex cardiac conditions with consideration of contemporary treatment methods. The unit compliments the learning on the foundation nursing concepts including lifespan, bioscience, person-centred care and ethically accountable practice. A holistic approach to care warrants a consideration of rehabilitative and/or palliative approaches to care in the specialist cardiac care setting.
This unit aims to support students in the evaluation of scientific concepts that support best practice in the cardiac/coronary care setting. On completion of this unit, students will acquire the knowledge and skill to deliver a person-centred and evidence-based quality care.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Analyse developmental and pathophysiological conce...
Learning Outcome 01
Evaluate the science underpinning specialist nursi...
Learning Outcome 02
Critically analyse and apply evidence underpinning...
Learning Outcome 03
Evaluate evidence-based practice in the treatment ...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include:
- Anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system
- Chambers of the heart
- Valves of the heart
- Layers of the heart
- Blood flow through the heart
- The coronary circulation
- The conduction system
- Cardiac performance
- Approaches to care (curative, preventative, rehabilitative, palliative)
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Myocardial Ischemia & Acute Coronary Syndrome (Angina, CAD, MI)
- Development
- Risk factors
- Pathophysiology
- Assessment
- Investigations
- Management
- Cardiac dysrhythmia and management
- Premature atrial contractions (PAC)/ Premature ventricular contractions (PVC)/ Sinus Bradycardia (SB)/ Sinus Tachycardia (ST)
- Atrial Fibrillation (AF)/ Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree AV block
- VT/VF/Asystole
- Cardiac pacing (temporary/permanent)
- Cardiac arrest resuscitation
- Cardiogenic shock & PCI
- Pathophysiology
- Assessment& management
- Percutaneous coronary intervention (Angioplasty/stent insertion)
- Nursing management of the patient undergoing PCI
- Pharmacotherapy
- Fibrinolytic therapy
- Anticoagulation
- Antiplatelet agents
- Beta-blocker therapy
- ACE inhibitors
- Calcium channel blockers
- Antiarrhythmic agents
- Diuretics
- Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure
- Aetiology
- Diagnosis/Best practice
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Sudden cardiac death
- Patient experiences of cardiomyopathy
- Left heart failure (congestive heart failure)
- Ejection fraction and heart failure (systolic heart failure)
- Pathogenesis of HF
- Chronic heart failure
- Diastolic heart failure
- Right heart failure
- Acute heart failure -principles of care
- Management of heart failure
- Discharge patient with heart failure
- Care of the patient with implantable cardiac devices
- Principles of implantable cardiac devices
- Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP)
- Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD)
- Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD)
- Clinical rationale for VAD implantation
- Patient experiences of VAD
- Permanent Pacemakers
- Nursing management of patients with a pacemaker
- Management of cardiac valve disease and cardiothoracic surgeries
- Mitral valve, Tricuspid valve/aortic valve disease
- Valve replacement surgery
- Cardiothoracic surgery
- Cardiopulmonary bypass
- Coronary artery bypass grafting
- Post-operative care of the patient:
- Fluid and electrolyte management
- Arterial blood gas analysis
- Management of intercostal catheter/chest drains
- Management of central venous access
- Patient experiences of cardiac surgery
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment strategy used in this unit encourages the progressive development of students’ scientific knowledge in relation to specialist cardiac practice to enable them to meet the unit learning outcomes. To develop the knowledge and skills required to achieve the learning outcomes and Graduate Attributes, students first demonstrate knowledge of scientific concepts in the intensive care setting through participation in the online multiple-choice quiz. Students’ understanding of the science underpinning the complex cardiac conditions in the specialist cardiac or coronary care setting is further developed through the development and presentation of an electronic poster. The final assessment will consolidate the unit learnings by students, addressing the pathophysiological concepts that support a wholistic approach to treatment and management of a patient within the specialist cardiac setting using current evidence-based practice.
In order to pass NRSG538 Cardiac Care: Advanced Concepts in Speciality Coronary Care Setting, students are required to achieve an aggregated score of 50% for the multiple-choice quiz and written assessments. The assessment tasks for this unit are designed to demonstrate the achievement of each learning outcome.
Overview of assessments
Assessment Task 1: Quiz Enables students to demo...
Assessment Task 1: Quiz
Enables students to demonstrate acquired foundation scientific knowledge and concepts related to specialised cardiac nursing through the completion of the online learning modules.
20%
Assessment Task 2: Digital Presentation/Poster E...
Assessment Task 2: Digital Presentation/Poster
Enables students to analyse the pathophysiological concepts and scientific underpinnings of common cardiac conditions in the cardiac specialty setting. This is a collaborative activity where students will be required to participate in a discussion forum to synthesise ideas.
40%
Assessment Task 3: Case Study Enables students t...
Assessment Task 3: Case Study
Enables students to apply learned scientific knowledge and demonstrate critical thinking skills, analysis and synthesis of evidence in relation to a complex presentation in the cardiac care specialty setting.
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Teaching and learning strategies utilised in this unit will support students in meeting the aim and achieving the learning outcomes relevant to this unit as well as to the broader course learning outcomes. This unit is offered via the ACU Online platform and uses active learning to support students to focus on their cardiac nursing specialist practice and apply developmental and pathophysiological concepts and evidence-based practice to support the management of complex cardiac conditions with an emphasis on the impact on their health and wellbeing. Students will also explore rehabilitative, preventative and/or palliative approaches to care for patients with cardiac and cardiothoracic conditions. In constructing specialist cardiac nursing knowledge and skill, students will evaluate care strategies that they will be able to apply within the specialist cardiac clinical setting. Students are required to complete online activities and assessments to demonstrate the application of knowledge. The learning and teaching strategy used in this unit allows flexibility for students while ensuring they have expert support. These modes of delivery assist students in linking knowledge, understanding and skills to the cardiac nursing context, and to develop shared meanings through online experiential reflections and discussions.
Representative texts and references
Recommended texts
Greenhalgh, T., Bidwell, J., Crisp, E., Lambros, A., & Warland, J. (2020). Understanding research methods for evidence-based practice in health (Second edition. ed.). John Wiley & Sons Australia.
Hoffmann, T., Bennett, S., & Del Mar, C. (2017). Evidence-based practice across the health professions (3rd ed.). Elsevier Australia.
Knights, K. M., Darroch, S., Rowland, A., & Bushell, M. (2023). Pharmacology for health professionals (6th edition. ed.). Elsevier Australia.
McCance, K. L., Huether, S. E., Brashers, V. L., & Rote, N. S. (2019). Pathophysiology : the biologic basis for disease in adults and children (Eighth edition ed.). Elsevier.
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2019). Anatomy & physiology (Adapted International edition. ed.). Elsevier.
Taylor, K., & Guerin, P. (2019). Health care and Indigenous Australians : cultural safety in practice (Third edition. ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.
Other recommended references
Recommendations for further texts will be made in the extended unit outline based on the specialty of the students enrolled in the unit.