Course Overview
Clinical Practicum VI provides intensive critical care experience in intensive care units (ICU) and emergency departments. Students care for patients with severe illnesses, acute organ dysfunction, and life-threatening conditions. The practicum emphasizes advanced assessment, hemodynamic monitoring, mechanical ventilation, crisis management, and end-of-life care. Students develop comfort with critical thinking in fast-paced environments, managing complex medication regimens, interpreting diagnostic studies, and communicating with families in crisis. Clinical experiences include Medical/Surgical ICU, Cardiac Care Unit, Emergency Department, and Stepdown units. The focus is on developing rapid assessment skills and confident decision-making in critical situations.
Learning Objectives
- Provide comprehensive care for critically ill patients with multiple organ dysfunction
- Monitor and interpret hemodynamic data and implement appropriate interventions
- Manage mechanically ventilated patients and troubleshoot ventilator-related problems
- Recognize and respond to acute decompensation and emergency situations
- Communicate effectively with families during critical illness and crisis
- Support patients and families through recovery, palliative care, or end-of-life transitions
Lecture Topics
- Week 1: ICU Environment, Equipment, and Monitoring Systems Orientation
- Week 1: Advanced Assessment Skills in Critical Care
- Week 2: Hemodynamic Monitoring and Cardiac Output Calculations
- Week 2: Mechanical Ventilation Management and Weaning Protocols
- Week 3: Recognizing Acute Decompensation and Emergency Response
- Week 3: ACLS, Code Blue, and Resuscitation
- Week 4: Managing Vasoactive Medications and Inotropic Infusions
- Week 5: Sepsis Recognition and Septic Shock Management
- Week 5: Renal Failure and CRRT in Critical Care
- Week 6: Family Communication and Support During Critical Illness
- Week 7: Palliative Care and End-of-Life Decision Making
- Week 8: Reflection, Self-Care, and Preventing ICU Nurse Burnout
Course Quiz
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Flashcards
Resources
ICU Unit Orientation and Equipment Manual
Unit-specific procedures, monitoring systems, emergency protocols, and workflow expectations.
RequiredCritical Care Nursing Skills Lab and Simulation
Hands-on practice with hemodynamic monitoring, ventilator management, and emergency resuscitation scenarios.
RequiredAmerican Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Resources
Practice standards, research, and education for critical care nursing excellence.
FreePeer Support and Stress Management Resources for ICU Nurses
Strategies for managing compassion fatigue, moral distress, and burnout in critical care.
Free