King Saud University
Faculty of Nursing
Medical Surgical Department
Undergraduate Curriculum
Course Content
Course Number: NUR 356
Course Title:Critical Care Nursing
Credit Hours:5hours (1 theories+4clinical)
Co-requisite: NUR 245
Level:Five
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 nurse 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 topriorities 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 care 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:
Practical will take place in critical care settings. Each student will be expected to submit a weekly nursing care plane for different patients with different diagnoses as assigned.A nursing assignment every two weeks concerning a clinical problem will be required from every student.
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Course outline:
I. Introduction to critical care
II. Psychological impact of critical care units on patients, families, and Nurses
III. Nursing the critically ill patient with cardiac disorders:-
§ Acute myocardial infarction
§ Post myocardial infarction complications
§ Cardiogenic shock
§ Coronary artery bypass graft(CABG)
IV. Nursing the critically ill patient with respiratorydisorders:-
§ Respiratory assessment
§ Arterial blood gases
§ Acute respiratory failure
§ Mechanical ventilation
§ Pulmonary embolism
V. Nursing the critically ill patient with neurologic disorders:-
§ Neurological assessment
§ Increased intracranial pressure
§ Neurologic shock
§ Seizures
Assignment:-
§ Dysrhythmia
§ Crash cart
Student Evaluation:
◊ Assignment reports 10%
◊ Midterm written examination 20%
◊ Clinical evaluation 30%
◊ Final written examination 40%
Required bibliography:
1. Olan I. Critical care nursing- Clinical Management through
the Nursing process.Philadelphia: Davis Company 2005
2. Urden L, Davie J, Thalan L. Essentials of Critical care NursingWashington DC:Library of congress catalogue, Mosby 2005
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