Unit rationale, description and aim
The Intensive Care Unit is one of the most specialised services, where the role of the nurse reaches a more advanced level of responsibility. An advanced understanding of scientific concepts is required to support the management and care of people who present with chronic, acute and complex life-threatening conditions or injuries. These scientific concepts support evidence based best practice and clinical reasoning in the intensive care setting. In this unit, students will further develop their understanding of the pathophysiology associated with pathologies in the intensive care setting and deviations from the norm for 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 disease processes presented in patients in the intensive care setting, and the scientific concepts underlying advanced therapies. Selection of content is based on best practice in the management and care of patients with complex conditions or multiple organ dysfunctions requiring 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 intensive care setting.
The aim of this unit is to support students in the evaluation of scientific concepts that support best practice in the intensive care setting. On completion of this unit, students will acquire advanced knowledge and skill to deliver person / family-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 advanced anatomy, physiology and pathophys...
Learning Outcome 01
Integrate and evaluate advanced theoretical and cl...
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:
- Critical care in patients with cardiocirculatory disorders
- ECG and hemodynamic monitoring
- Common cardiocirculatory pathologies, assessment and management in the ICU
- Myocardial Infarction/Acute Coronary Syndrome
- Heart Failure/Acute Pulmonary Oedema
- Ischemic heart disease
- Dysrhythmias
- Cardiogenic shock
- Endocarditis
- Aneurysm and aortic dissection
- Valvular heart disease
- Critical care in patients with respiratory disorders
- Management of respiratory disorders
- Acute Respiratory Failure
- Acute Respiratory Distress Sydrome/respiratory pandemics
- Exacerbation of COPD
- Pulmonary embolism
- Pneumonia
- Neuromuscular disorders that affect respiration
- Fundamentals of mechanical ventilation and oxygenation
- Nursing care of mechanical ventilated patients & non-invasive mechanical ventilation
- Nursing care of tracheostomised patients
- Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Care in patients with neurological disorders
- Anatomy and physiology review of the nervous system
- Common neurological pathologies in the ICU and approaches to management:
- Stroke (ischemic subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage)
- Seizures
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Guillain – Barre syndrome
- Renal, Gastrointestinal & metabolic alternations
- Review of kidney anatomy and physiology
- Kidney disorders and management
- Acute Kidney Injury
- Chronic Kidney Disease/End Stage Renal Failure
- Continuous/Renal replacement therapy (C/RRT)
- Gastrointestinal physiology and management of:
- Acute pancreatitis
- Liver dysfunction/acute liver failure
- Gastrointestinal surgery
- Critically ill patients with diabetes
- Pathophysiology and management of shock, sepsis and Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODs)
- Management of different types of shock
- Pathophysiology and management of MODs
- Critical care for severe trauma patients
- Mechanism of injury
- Principles of management of the injured patient
- Special considerations in trauma
- Critically ill burns patient
- Pathophysiology
- Patient management/emergency principle of care
- Wound care/dressing\
- Care for patients with hematologic and oncologic emergencies
- Overview of coagulation and fibrinolysis
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation
- Thrombocytopenia
- Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
- Anesthesia and Surgery
- Introduction pf anesthesia
- Anesthetic agents
- Care for the critical post-surgical patients
- Care to transplant patients
- Immunology of transplantation
- Immunosuppressive medications
- Hospital transport
- In-hospital & inter-hospital
- Palliative/end of life care in the intensive care setting
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment strategy used in this unit encourages the progressive development of students’ scientific knowledge in relation to the specialist intensive care setting 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 care of the critically ill patient in the intensive 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 intensive care setting using current evidence-based practice.
The assessment tasks for this unit are designed to demonstrate the achievement of each learning outcome. To pass NRSG542 Intensive Care: Advanced Concepts in the Speciality Critical Care Setting, students must demonstrate achievement of every learning outcome and obtain a minimum mark of 50% for the unit.
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 intensive care nursing through the completion of the online learning modules.
20%
Assessment Task 2: Digital Presentation / e-Poste...
Assessment Task 2: Digital Presentation / e-Poster
Enables students to analyse the pathophysiological concepts and scientific underpinnings of a complex condition in the intensive care 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 the care of a critically ill patient.
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 specialist intensive care nursing practice. The unit supports the application of developmental and pathophysiological concepts and evidence-based practice that underpins best practice in the management of critically ill patients with an emphasis on the impact on their health and well-being. Students will also explore rehabilitative, preventative, and/or palliative approaches to care for patients with actual or potential vital organ dysfunction. In constructing specialist intensive care nursing knowledge and skill, students will evaluate advanced care strategies that they will be able to apply within the specialised intensive care 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 intensive care nursing context, and to develop shared meanings through online experiential reflections and discussions.
Representative texts and references
Recommended Text
Aitken, L., Marshall, A., & Chaboyer, W. (2019). Critical Care Nursing. (4th ed.). Elsevier.
Greenhalgh, T., Bidwell, J., Crisp, E., Lambros, A., & Warland, J. (2020). Understanding research methods for evidence-based practice in health (2nd 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 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 (8th 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 (3rd ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.
Urden, L. D., Stacy, K. M., & Lough, M. E. (2022). Critical care nursing: Diagnosis and management. (9th ed.). Elsevier.
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.