Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE NUR2360

 
TITLE Care of the Patient in Critical Care Settings

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Nursing

 
DESCRIPTION Critical care nursing is a nursing specialty that deals with life-threatening health problems and ensures that acutely and critically ill patients and their families receive the highest quality nursing care. This study-unit introduces nursing students to various conditions that require admission to a critical care unit, their underlying pathophysiology and the associated treatment modality, with particular emphasis on the nurse’s role.

The main topics covered include:

- Haemodynamic Monitoring;
- Airway management;
- Care of patients receiving mechanical ventilation;
- Assessment and management of patients with severe burns;
- Assessment and management of patients in shock;
- Arterial blood gas interpretation;
- Introduction to ECG monitoring;
- Infection prevention and control in critical care settings;
- Care of critically ill neonates;
- Addressing the psychosocial needs of critically ill patients and their families; and
- Assessment, management and care of patients with traumatic head injuries.

Study-unit Aims:

This study-unit aims to introduce undergraduate nursing students to the principles and practice of critical care nursing through an evidence-based approach to teaching and learning.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Critically discuss, on the basis of research findings, the holistic management of critically ill patients;
- Explain the pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of common conditions necessitating intensive care
- Discuss the role of the nurse within critical care settings; and
- Evaluate various treatment modalities implemented in critical care settings

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- explain and interpret assessment and monitoring procedures commonly used within critical care settings;
- communicate effectively with members of the multidisciplinary team, critically ill patients and their relatives;
- observe various specialised nursing procedures and practice several of them under supervision; and
- report and reflect on the care delivered to critically ill patients and their relatives.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Baid, H., Creed, F., Hargreaves, J. (2016). Oxford Handbook of Critical Care Nursing. 2nd ed. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
- Burns, S. & Delgado, S. (2018). AACN Essentials of Critical Care Nursing (4th Ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
- Morton, P.G., Fontaine, D. (2018). Critical Care Nursing: A Holistic Approach (11th Ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health / Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
- Urden, L.D., Stacy, K.M., Lough, M.E. (Eds.) (2018). Critical Care Nursing: Diagnosis and Management (8th Ed.). Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier.
- Woodrow, P. (2019). Intensive care nursing: a framework for practice. 4th, ed. London, UK: Routledge.

 
RULES/CONDITIONS While TAKING THIS UNIT YOU MUST TAKE NUR2094 OR TAKE NUR3276

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Examination (2 Hours) SEM1 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Arlene Cassar
Dorianne Coleiro
Rachel Grech
Vincent Saliba
Josef Trapani (Co-ord.)
Deborah M. Xuereb

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit