NUR5924 Intensive care nursing 2

This unit focuses on the development of advanced practice skills and knowledge necessary to work in an Intensive Care Unit.

Key concepts covered include: pathophysiology and management of sepsis, multi organ dysfunction syndrome, acute lung injury, neurological alterations and management, and support of renal function. There will be investigation of the development of advanced Intensive Care therapies.

The extended skills and expertise of an intensive care nurse covered include: advanced ventilation strategies, advanced haemodynamic monitoring, cardiac pacing, intra-aortic balloon pump therapy, and continuous renal replacement therapies and advanced neurological monitoring.

This unit builds on the skills and knowledge of the Registered Nurse working in Intensive Care and applies this to complex patient presentations. These areas include trauma, emergency, paediatrics, obstetrics, cardiac surgery, post anaesthesia and pain management

The unit also has a focus on the applied psychosocial and ethical elements of intensive care nursing including complex decision making, end of life care and organ donation. The student will develop skills to provide an advanced level of care to Intensive Care patients and their significant others across age, socio-cultural and economic groups.