Critical Care Nursing

Graduate Certificate Program

GCNC 415

Instructor: David A. Dutcher, BSN, RN, MSN, DC

SYLLABUS

Welcome to Critical Care Nursing I, a graduate level course in the curriculum for the Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing. I am pleased to mentor you through this course. These are exciting courses. As you are aware, there is a shortage of nurses nationally. And Critical Care nurses are in great demand. This course will allow you, the professional nurse, to position yourself in the most prestigious and highest paying discipline in nursing.

In order to be in demand in nursing, it is imperative that nurses at all levels realize they must acquire proficiency in specialty areas. Skills needed are basic knowledge of all aspects of emergency and critical care medicine, Intensive Care, Coronary Care, Telemetry, PICU and NICU, and the ability to function independently and professionally in one or several of these specialty areas.

The future of Critical Care Nursing is taking a turn to the wholly computerized unit. This involves computerized charting, patient assessment, care planning; every aspect of patient care. The future Critical Care Nurse must be able to understand the complex issues of medical intervention and treatment and apply advanced nursing care across the gamut of acute care services. The future Critical Care Nurse must be able to understand the complex nature of such issues as family interaction and ethics. These skills are not acquired easily or quickly.

In Critical Care Nursing I, you will to acquire those skills. In Critical Care Nursing II, you will build on the skills you have previously learned. In Critical Care Nursing III you will master the subject and at the end of the course you will be prepared to take the credentialing exams.

The last course you take will consist of writing a Masters Level paper on a current issue, process, procedure or theory in critical care nursing. This paper will be 10-15 pages and in APA format.

I know you will enjoy the challenge of these courses. After all, there is nothing to rival trench medicine.

TIME FRAME: This is a four hour course. This course is allotted ten weeks of time. You must complete all of the requirements for the course successfully by the end of the ten-week period. The first day of week one will begin the day that you register for the course, or the day that you notify me that your textbooks have arrived and you are ready to begin your studies. Please be cognizant of the time frame. It is rare that extensions of time are permitted, unless you have good justification. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be awarded four semester hours of credit.

TEXTBOOKS: There are two (2) required textbooks for this course.

Thelan’s Critical Care Nursing – Diagnosis and Management
Fifth Edition
Linda D. Urden
Kathleen M. Stacy
Mary E. Lough
Mosby
ISBN: 0-323-03248-6

Case Studies in Critical Care Nursing: A Guide for Application and Review – 3rd Edition
Sheila Drake Melander - Editor
ISBN: 0721603440

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EXAMINATIONS: There are two examinations for this course. You will take the midterm exam after the fifth week and the final exam after the tenth week.

The midterm exam is a multiple choice, true-false type test. You will have three hours to take the exam.

The final exam is a multiple choice, true-false type test. You will have three hours to take the exam.

Both exams are programmed and are located in the classroom for this course. To take the exams, you must send me an email and let me know that you are ready to take the exam. I will then contact administration and grant access to the exam. You will need to log into the exam using your student number and password. You may access the exam only once.

GRADING: The grading scale for this course is as follows:

90-100%    = A
80-89%      = B
70-79%      = C
Below 70% = Fail

The grading sheet for all written papers is as follows:

CONTENT: Weight 48%.
1). Content is comprehensive, accurate and/or persuasive.
2). Major points are stated clearly, and are supported by specific details, examples, and/or analysis.
3). Research is adequate for the topic.
4). The context and purpose of the writing is clear.

ORGANIZATION: Weight 28%.
1). The introduction provides sufficient background on the topic and previews major points.
2). The structure of the paper is clear and easy to follow.
3). The paper’s organization emphasizes the central theme or purpose and is directed.
4). The conclusion reviews the major points.

FORMAT/GRAMMAR: Weight 12%.
1). Spelling is correct.
2). Word usage is correct.
3). Punctuation is correct.

READABILITY/STYLE: Weight 12%.
1). Sentences are complete, clear, and concise.
2). The tone is appropriate to the content and assignment.
3). Development of each paragraph provides one idea per paragraph and provides consistency and flow.

COMMUNICATION: You are encouraged to communicate with me. I am available as a teacher, coach, and mentor to assist you in meeting your goals for this course. Primarily, communication is through email. However, I am also available for conversation by telephone if you would like. Our classroom for this course has a “chat” room. I am also very willing to meet with you one-on-one in the chat room at your request. Please keep my email address handy so that you can contact me. If at any time during this course you change your email address, please be sure to notify me right away.

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS: There are eight (10) written assignments for this course. All assignments are one to two-page (minimum) paper on the assigned topic. These must be in APA format: double-spaced with 1.0-inch margins, proper heading and format. You must send these papers via email by the end of each week of the course.

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR:

David A. Dutcher, MSN, RN, DC, currently teaches courses at Breyer State University. Additionally, he teaches two certificate courses through Canyon College-Online: Musculoskeletal Complaints - Rapid Assessment and Correctional Nursing. He holds a degree as a Doctor of Chiropractic and a Masters of Science in Nursing Education. He has owned and operated his own Chiropractic clinic, managed all aspects of a professional clinic and managed staff of eight. Dr. Dutcher lives in Southern California. He has also published a children's science fiction book, "Feebie Brainiac and the Lysis Virus." Dr. Dutcher’s adult fiction novel, “Whitelighters for April,” will be published June 1st.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

1). Discuss basic standards and competencies required of a critical care nurse.

2). Demonstrate basic knowledge of required nursing assessment and intervention skills for critical care patients having respiratory disorders (e.g., acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute asthma, pulmonary embolus).

3). Demonstrate basic knowledge of required nursing assessment and intervention skills for critical-care patients having cardiovascular disorders (e.g., myocardial infarction (MI), congestive heart failure (CHF), cardiac surgery, arrhythmias).

4). Demonstrate basic knowledge of required nursing assessment and intervention skills for critical care patients having neurological disorders (e.g., cerebral vascular accident (CVA), seizures, brain tumors).

5). Demonstrate basic knowledge of required nursing assessment and intervention skills for critical care patients having renal disorders (e.g., acute and chronic renal failure, renal transplant, renal calculi).

6). Demonstrate basic knowledge of required nursing assessment and intervention skills for critical-care patients having endocrine disorders (e.g., diabetes insipidus, thyroid problems, adrenal dysfunction).

7). Demonstrate basic knowledge of required nursing assessment and intervention skills for critical care patients having hematological disorders (e.g., disseminated intravascular coagulation, shock, anemia).

8). Demonstrate basic knowledge of required nursing assessment and intervention skills for critical care patients having gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel, perforated ulcers, cirrhosis, other liver problems).

9). Demonstrate basic knowledge of required nursing assessment and intervention skills for critical care patients who have been subjected to trauma and/or other medical emergencies (e.g., burns, abdominal trauma, thoracic and neck trauma, head trauma, cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

10). Demonstrate basic knowledge of how to integrate appropriate pharmacological interventions, nutritional measures, and patient teaching in the critical care clinical experience.

11). Demonstrate basic knowledge of how to apply the major concepts or professional practice within the critical care setting.

12). Demonstrate basic knowledge of how to perform the role of a critical care nurse.

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