92473 Introduction to Specialty Practice: Critical Care Nursing
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): (92438 Medical Surgical Nursing OR 92450 Medical Surgical Nursing (Graduate Entry) OR 92024 Medical Surgical Nursing (Graduate Entry) OR 92322 Medical Surgical Nursing OR 92454 Medical Surgical Nursing)) OR ((93211 Clinical Practice 2B OR 93225 Clinical Practice 2B) AND (93207 Foundations of Nursing Practice 2A OR 93200 Foundations of Nursing Practice 2A) AND (93224 Foundations of Nursing Practice 2B OR 93210 Foundations of Nursing Practice 2B) AND (93214c Foundations of Nursing Practice 3A OR 93228c Foundations of Nursing Practice 3A)
The lower case 'c' after the subject code indicates that the subject is a corequisite. See definitions for details.
Description
This subject introduces students to the basic concepts and clinical foundations of critical care nursing. Students further develop their critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills related to accurate assessment, interpretation of clinical data, person-centred intervention, evaluation of the effectiveness of care and predicting potential problems. Skills in early recognition of deterioration, responsiveness and escalation of care in a critical care setting are developed. Effective communication, teamwork, safe medication practices and relevant ethical and legal principles are integral to this subject. In the critical care environment, nurses are often the first clinician that patients see. Hence, patient safety is contingent on all these skills.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Demonstrate an understanding of key principles and practices of a comprehensive assessment in the critical care environment (RN Standards for Practice 1.1-1.6, 3.1-3.7, 4.1-4.4, 6.1-6.5). |
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| B. | Develop a beginning understanding of how to deliver person-centred clinical management in the critical care environment (RN Standards for Practice 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). |
| C. | Identify key concepts related to the nurse experience in the critical care setting and the impact of the technology (RN Standards for Practice (1.1-1.6, 3.1-3.7, 4.1-4.4, 6.1-6.5). |
| D. | Discuss the legal obligations and ethical considerations of the nurse in the critical care environment (RN Standards for Practice 3.1-3.7, 6.1-6.5, 7.3). |
| E. | Identify the contribution of the interprofessional healthcare team in providing safe clinical care (Standards for Practice 1.1, 2.1-2.7, 3.1-3.7,4.1-4.3, 6.1-6.5). |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- The ability to plan and provide care that is respectful of each individuals’ needs, values and life experiences (1.0)
- Demonstrates an ability to provide holistic and compassionate care that takes into account people's lived experience, views and feelings. (1.1)
- The embodiment of a professional disposition committed to ethical, equitable and legal nursing practice (2.0)
- Demonstrates a commitment to social justice, valuing diversity and seeking to address disadvantage and inequity in healthcare. (2.2)
- The ability to communicate and collaborate safely, compassionately and respectfully. (3.0)
- The ability to provide patient care premised on the best available evidence (4.0)
- Uses information and communication technologies to access valid sources of evidence. (4.1)
- Accesses, appraises and critiques multiple sources of evidence and transfers knowledge to practice. (4.2)
- Plans and provides care based on the best available evidence including clinical expertise and patients' individual needs, values and preferences. (4.3)
- Uses clinical reasoning skills to accurately assess, interpret and respond to patient data in a systematic and timely manner. (6.2)
- Critically reflects on and learns from previous experiences to improve future practice. (6.3)
- The knowledge and skills required for safe and effective patient care (7.0)
- Demonstrates technical and non-technical skills in the provision of safe effective, legal and ethical nursing care. (7.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Person-centred care
- Evidence-based practice
- Critical thinking
- Professional competence
Teaching and learning strategies
In this subject, students will participate in a range of teaching and learning strategies that are designed to encourage them to engage in the nursing care of patients in a critical care setting.
Online Learning Activities
Via the online platform Canvas, students will be exposed to a variety of online materials that have been specifically developed to support students' progress. Students access online learning resources, including pre/post-class activities, videos, readings and clinical websites and guidelines. Students will be required to undertake the set activities before coming to the clinical workshop.
Clinical workshop sessions
Students participate in five clinical workshop sessions. These sessions are interactive and introduce students to concepts and skills specific to critical care nursing. Given the complexity of this area of practice, simulated activities will be incorporated to provide practical learning experiences and are designed to give exposure to a range of scenarios that may be encountered in practice. Activities include using audio-visual aids, clinical equipment set-ups with mannequins, and teaching staff or students as patients/families. Students learn and practice clinical and interpersonal skills, and practice scenarios incorporate the development of professional communication skills, including professional and therapeutic communication required for nursing practice. Students are provided feedback and the opportunity to collaborate and develop skills to work effectively as team members.
Clinical Placement
In this subject students complete 80 hours of clinical placement. Placements are provided in a range of healthcare facilities in mostly metropolitan locations. Students provide nursing care within their scope of practice alongside multidisciplinary teams to develop and consolidate their knowledge, skills and attributes relevant to the clinical field.
All clinical placements are managed under the UTS Internships Management Policy and students must comply and act in accordance with the Student Rules, the Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy and the Equity, Inclusion and Respect Policy.
In this subject, the following students are not required to complete a clinical placement for the Introduction to Specialty Practice subject:
- Students enrolled in the STM91471 Bachelor of Nursing Standard Program in 2021 or thereafter
- Students enrolled in the STM91472 Bachelor of Nursing Enrolled Nurse Accelerated program in 2022 or thereafter
Content (topics)
Content will include:
- An introduction to critical care nursing and the role of the critical care nurse
- The nature of the critical care environment
- Fundamental principles and practices of a comprehensive assessment in the critical care setting
- An introduction to relating anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology to care for critically ill patients
- Introduction to person-centred clinical management in the critical care setting
- Introduction to haemodynamic monitoring and support in critical care settings
- Introduction to ventilation
- Recognition and responding to deterioration and escalation of care
- Legal and ethical considerations in the critical care environment
- An introduction to end-of-life care in the critical care setting
- Effective communication with team members, patients and families
- Safe medication administration
- Adverse events in the critical care setting
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Assessment 1: In-class Quiz
| Intent: | This assessment task is to provide students feedback on their understanding of the preparation activities and online subject material. It is also designed to prepare students and promote engagement during on-campus clinical workshops. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C and D This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 4.2, 4.3 and 6.2 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | 30 minutes. |
Assessment task 2: Assessment 2: HIRAID Reflection
| Intent: | Teamwork and collaboration are considered highly important skills for all healthcare professionals. The need for effective teams is vital due to increasing patient complexity and specialisation of care. This assessment provides the opportunity for students to demonstrate their understanding of teamwork, collaboration and communication as well as essential skills like critical thinking and reflection. All these skills are vital for providing safe, quality healthcare to all patients. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): B, D and E This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.1, 4.1 and 6.2 |
| Type: | Reflection |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | 1000 words |
Assessment task 3: Assessment 3: In-class Exam
| Intent: | Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their critical thinking, judgment, and subject learning through this final exam. This assessment will address the key concepts unpacked across the subject's labs, lectures and online materials, and put forward a series of multiple-choice and short-answer questions for students to answer. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C, D and E This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 2.2, 4.1, 6.2, 6.3 and 7.1 |
| Type: | Examination |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | 90 minutes |
Assessment task 4: Assessment 4: Clinical Placement (BN course before 2021)
| Intent: | ONLY FOR STUDENTS enrolled in BN course before 2021 Clinical placement allows students to consolidate, develop, and apply knowledge and skills learned in the subject and practice them in line with the RN Standards of Practice. Students will undertake 80 hours of clinical placement hours. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C, D and E This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 7.0 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Length: | Allocated clinical placement |
Recommended texts
Aitken, L., Marshall, A., & Chaboyer, W. (eds) 2019, ACCCN’s critical care nursing. 4e, Elsevier, Sydney.
Curtis, K. R. (2019). Emergency and trauma care for nurses and paramedics (K. Curtis, C. Ramsden, R. Z. Shaban, M. Fry, & J. Considine, Eds.; Third edition.). Elsevier.
Other resources
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