Course overview
This course will provide Registered Nursing and Midwives with the introductory knowledge and skills to recognise and respond to patients/ women with the potential for clinical deterioration. The course incorporates evidence-based care and offers the following sub-streams: acute care; midwifery and neonatal. Across each of the specialty areas the content is similar; however, the virtual tutorials, discussion forums, case studies and clinical management will vary in relation to relevant clinical specialty. Weekly topics will include respiratory, cardiac, neurological and renal considerations; a comprehensive patient/ woman assessment; discussion of the underlying pathophysiology; recognition and management of clinical deterioration; management of a patient/ woman with advanced care needs requiring a higher level of support; clinical decision making; and legal and ethical considerations in nursing and midwifery care.
- Advanced life support
- Haemodynamic monitoring
- Respiratory assessment
- Respiratory failure and diagnostics
- Cardiac assessment
- Cardiac failure and diagnostics
- Neurological assessment and monitoring
- Fluids, electrolytes and the renal system
- Gastrointestinal and endocrine system
- Infection and sepsis
- Legal and ethics
- Evidence-based practice and clinical decision making
- Overview of clinical assessment
Course learning outcomes
- Evaluate the physical, psychosocial, cultural and spiritual impact of critical illness on the patient/person and their family.
- Demonstrate integrated comprehensive assessment and clinical decision making in nursing and midwifery management of patients/persons with high acuity needs
- Apply specialist knowledge in recognising and responding to clinical deterioration of a high acuity and/or critically ill patient/person.
- Implement competent advanced life support for a high acuity and/or critically ill patient/person.
- Integrate best available evidence in the management of high acuity and/or critically ill patients/persons.
- Synthesise knowledge of ethical practice in the nursing and midwifery management of high acuity and/or critically ill patients/persons.
- Critically analyse the use of technology in the management of high acuity and/or critically ill patients/persons.