AHU-FON-NUR- CS -ACD—15
Al Hussein Bin Talal University
Princess Aisha Bint Al-Hussein College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Course Syllabus
Department: Nursing
Credit Hours: 3 Hours
co-requisites:
Faculty Member
E-mail:
Course Website:
Academic Year:
Course Title: Critical Care Nursing (theory)
Course Number: 0901421
Course Year Level:
Day- Time:
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Semester:
Course Description
This course focuses on the principles of critical care nursing practice. It aims to explaining the
knowledge necessary for students to practice in different types of critical care area. It explains the
advanced scientific knowledge that moves beyond fundamental techniques in the provision of care for
patients in the critical care environment. It is designed to assist students in understanding the nature of
critical care nursing and role of nurse in meeting the different needs of critically ill patient with the
different acute and life threatening conditions. Knowledge generated all through this course enables
students to collaborate in the provision of a comprehensive management to patients who are admitted
to the critical care settings and their families and to identify the major system organ alterations that
nurses frequently encounter in critical illnesses. Critical thinking and problem solving are also
emphasized in performing nursing assessment and prioritizing patient‘s need and nursing interventions
as students experience decision making when they engage in group discussion to solve clinical
situation prepared based on each topic in the course. This course adopts the principle of flexible
learning strategy in that videos and handouts are available for students to use whenever they are
willing. In addition, problem-based learning through exposing students to issues like case scenarios,
progressive case analysis, and clinical judgment using both classroom- and simulator-based scenarios
are all used to enhance clinical reasoning and critical thinking skills among students.
General Learning Objectives
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Identify the major problems and needs of critically ill patient
2. Provide comprehensive care for critically ill patients with different acute and life threatening
conditions following nursing process
3. Identify the scope of critical care nursing
4. Discuss the needs / problems of patients in critical illness
5. Discuss the nursing management for critically ill patient with sensory perceptual alterations
6. Demonstrate an understanding of effect of stress on critically ill patient
7. Describe the nursing interventions for the different pulmonary alterations in critically ill patient
like chest injury, pneumothorax, hemothorax, and acute respiratory distress syndrome.
8. Demonstrate an understanding of the different modes and settings of the mechanical ventilation
9. Discuss the nursing management of mechanically ventilated patient
10. Describe the nursing interventions for patient with the different cardiovascular alterations such as
angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, cardiac dysrhythmias….etc.
Issue Date: May 2015
Revision Date: February 2016
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AHU-FON-NUR- CS -ACD—15
Al Hussein Bin Talal University
Princess Aisha Bint Al-Hussein College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Course Syllabus
11. Demonstrate an understanding of principles of cardiac pacing
12. Discuss the nursing management of patient with cardiac pacemaker
13. Discuss the role of nurse regarding patient undergoing cardiac catheterization & cardiac surgery
14. Discuss nursing management of the different neurological alterations such as peripheral
neurological disorders, head injury, spinal cord injury, and increased intracranial
pressure.
15. Discuss nursing management of the different endocrinal alterations such as diabetic coma, DKA,
and HHNKS.
16. Discuss nursing management of different types of shock.
Specific Learning Objectives
Upon the completion of this course, the students will be able to:
Psychomotor:
1. Apply nursing process as a basis for nursing care, to hospitalized adults experiencing alterations in
optimal level of function.
2. Prioritize nursing diagnoses for planning and implementing nursing interventions.
3. Identify community resources to promote discharge planning of the hospitalized adult to facilitate
maintenance of optimal level of functioning.
4. Plan appropriate nursing care for critically ill adults.
5. Evaluate nursing care of critically ill adults.
6. Modify the plan of care based on evaluation results.
7. Apply appropriate research findings to clinical practice.
8. Assess critically ill adults using inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation, as well as
electronic equipment.
9. Utilize national standards when delivering nursing care to critically ill patients.
Cognitive / Critical thinking
1. Analyze ECG tracing acknowledging basic and complex arrhythmias
2. Interpret ABGs analysis results using logical sequence and linking anion gap and osmolality to the
findings
3. Determining the appropriate nursing diagnosis for critically ill patient with the different body systems
alterations.
4. Explain the basic principles of mechanical ventilation.
5. Discuss the role of nurse regarding patient undergoing cardiac catheterization and cardiac surgery
6. Discuss the nursing management of patient with neurological deficit, renal insufficiency and
gastrointestinal emergencies.
7. Analyze symptoms of shock and determine the logical line of treatment for each particular type
Issue Date: May 2015
Revision Date: February 2016
2
AHU-FON-NUR- CS -ACD—15
Al Hussein Bin Talal University
Princess Aisha Bint Al-Hussein College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Course Syllabus
Instructional Resources
 Audiovisual materials
 Library resources: textbooks, journals, CDs, and videos
 Online data base
Teaching & Learning Methods



Interactive lecture using videos and discussion
Two-way discussion
Reading assignment
Evaluation Scheme
Expected Date
Percentage
First Exam
25%
Second exam
25%
Final Exam
50%
Total
100%
* Make-up exams will be offered for valid reasons only with consent of the Dean. Make-up
exams may be different from regular exams in content and format.
Issue Date: May 2015
Revision Date: February 2016
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AHU-FON-NUR- CS -ACD—15
Al Hussein Bin Talal University
Princess Aisha Bint Al-Hussein College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Course Syllabus
Week
1
3-4
5-6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Date
Course Content
Topic
Duties / Tasks
Introduction to the course
Foundation of critical care nursing
Basic concepts in critical care:
- ABGs
- Acid-Base Balance and Anion Gap
- Hemodynamic Monitoring
- Coagulation and Bleeding
Nursing Management of Patient with Respiratory Conditions
- Respiratory Failure
- Mechanical ventilation
- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Chest Emergency:
 Pneumothorax/Tension Pneumothorax
 Chest Flail
FIRST EXAM (25%)
Nursing Management of Patient with Cardiovascular Disorders
- Acute Coronary Syndrome
- CABG
- Cardiomyopathy
Nursing Management of Patient with Renal Disorders
- Basic concepts in renal system
- Fluids and electrolytes
- Renal failure and ESRD
- Caring for patient post renal transplantation
Hepatobiliary Emergencies
- Hepatic encephalopathy
Nursing Management of Patient with Nervous Disorders
- Assessment of the neurological system
- Traumatic brain injury
- Stroke
SECOND EXAM (25%)
Nursing Management of Patient with Endocrine Disorders
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis
- Diabetes Inspidious
- Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Non-Ketotic Syndrome
- Thyroid Storm
- Pancreatitis
Nursing Management of Patient with G.I Disorders
Issue Date: May 2015
Revision Date: February 2016
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AHU-FON-NUR- CS -ACD—15
Al Hussein Bin Talal University
Princess Aisha Bint Al-Hussein College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Course Syllabus
13
14
- Upper G.I Bleeding
- Lower G.I Bleeding
Nursing Management of Patient with Multi-System Disorders
- Cardiogenic shock
- Hemorrhagic shock
- Septic shock
- Neurogenic shock
- Drug overdose and poisoning
Managing a Multiple Trauma Patient (Group Work)
FINAL EXAMS WEEK (40%)
Title
References- Textbook
Critical Care Nursing: A Holistic Approach
Author(s)
Morton P, Fontaine D, Hudak C, Gallo B.
Publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia.
Year
2012
Edition
10th edition
1. Urden L, Stacy K, Lough M. Priorities in critical care nursing, 4th edn, Mosby Inc,
USA, 2004.
2. Sole M, Klein D, Moseley M, Introduction to critical care nursing,4th edn,
Elsevier Inc, USA, 2005.
3. Robinson, J. Critical care challenges: disorders, treatments , and procedures, 1st
edition, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins: Walters Kluwer company Philadelphia
4. ACCCN critical care nursing (ed.s), 3rd edn. Mosby Inc, Australia, 2012.
5. Morino, PL. The ICU Book, 3rd edn, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins: Walters
Kluwer company Philadelphia, 2007.
Recommended
Textbooks:
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACADEMIC CONDUCT
There are a number of expectations to achieving the goals of this course and successfully passing
the Adult Health Nursing II. They include:
A. Attendance:
Your success in this class will depend on regular attendance and punctuality.
Attendance is expected at every class, for those who miss more than 15% of lecture hours with or
without acceptable excuse will be dismissed from the course.
If class is missed, students should get missed information from lecture from a classmate.
Instructors will not provide missed information.
In the case of a critical life event, homework, quizzes, and exams may be made up, at the
discretion of the faculty.
Issue Date: May 2015
Revision Date: February 2016
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AHU-FON-NUR- CS -ACD—15
Al Hussein Bin Talal University
Princess Aisha Bint Al-Hussein College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Course Syllabus
B. Reading:
Reading of textbook assignments should be done before the topic is presented in class to ensure
a basic understanding of the topic before lecture.
C. Active Participation in class discussions:
Active participation is important to successful learning. You will be encouraged to join in on
class discussions, share relevant experiences, and ask questions. Emphasis is placed on
practicing English in order to promote English fluency.
STUDENT CONDUCT
1. Meet the course teacher at the posted office hours or by appointment.
2. Avoid cheating, academic misconduct, fabrication, and plagiarism. Such behaviors will lead
to disciplinary action as described in the students’ handbook.
3. Cell phones are required to be turned off during class time.
4. Students are expected to participate in an orderly manner. Students whose behaviors distract
from the learning process will be asked to leave for the day and will count as an absence. This
includes talking during class time
Issue Date: May 2015
Revision Date: February 2016
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