Course Overview:
The course focuses on adult patients with critical conditions and
disorders. It concentrates on nursing assessment, diagnoses and
nursing intervention of critically ill patients. Clinical application of
theoretical· content will include pathophysiology, pharmacology and
treatment modalities. Consideration is given to assessment data
through technologies available at practice settings.
Course Objectives:
By the end of this course, the student should be able to:
1- Acquire competency in assessing patients and in performing
physical examination of patients in critical care units.
2- Delineate the nursing care interventions according to priorities in the
acute management of critically ill patients with different problems.
3- Apply the nursing process in the delivery of nursing care to patients
with critical car problems.
4- Demonstrate skill in the safe use of critical care equipments and
monitors.
5- Provide nursing interventions in compliance with critical unit
policies and protocols.
Course Requirements:
Practicum will take place in critical care settings. Each student will
be expected to submit a weekly nursing care plan for different
patients with different diagnosis as assigned. A nursing assignment
every two weeks concerning a clinical problem will be required
from every student.
Course Outline:
Hours
I- Introduction to Critical care Nursing. 1 hr.
II- Psychological Impact of Critical care Units on patients, 2 hrs.
families and Nurses.
II- Nursing the Critically Patient with Cardiac Disorders: 4hrs .
§ Cardiovascular assessment.
§ Post myocardial infraction complications.
§ Cardiogenic shock.
§ Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
III- Nursing Critically III Patients with Respiratory Disorders: 4 hrs
· Respiratory assessment.
· Arterial blood gases. (ABG)
· Acute respiratory failure.
· Mechanical ventilation.
· Pulmonary embolism.
IV-Critically ill Patients with Neurologic Disorders: 4 hrs .
· Neurological assessment.
· Increased intracranial pressure (ICP).
· Neurologic shock.
· Seizures.
Evaluation:
Semester Evaluation:
§ Assignments reports 10 %
§ Mid-term examination 20 %
§ Clinical evaluation 30 %
§ Final Written Examination 40 %
Required bibliography:
1. Dolan 1. Critical care Nursing-Clinical management Through the
Nursing Process.Philadelphia: Davis Company 1991.
2. Urden L, Davie J, Thalan L. Essentials of Critical Care nursmg
Washington DC: library of Congress catalogue, Mosby 1992.
3-Smeltzer S. Bare L. Brunner and Suddarth Taxtbook of Medical
Surgical Nursing. 10 th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2004.