Critical Care Nursing Post Baccalaureate Certificate
Description
The Critical Care Nursing Program offered by Kwantlen Polytechnic University provides Registered Nurses (RNs) with the skills and knowledge to successfully transition their career into Critical Care Nursing. The program is aligned with the competencies of the Canadian Nurses Association certification exam for Adult Critical Care.
Career Opportunities
The program is designed to gradually introduce students to the highly technological environments of critical care.
Entrance Requirements
In addition to Kwantlen’s General university admission requirements the following program admission requirements apply:
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Practicing CRNBC registration
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Current CPR Level C
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Baccalaureate degree in Nursing
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Practicing Registered Nurses with a diploma and several years acute care experience may be considered on an individual basis. NOTE: resume and interview are required as part of this option.
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Letter of recommendation from employer
Content
This program is delivered over seventeen weeks and currently starts at the beginning of January and finishes at the end of April of each year. The program is designed to gradually introduce the students to the highly technological environments of critical care. Theory and lab experiences are interspersed over the first twelve weeks. Practicum experiences during these first twelve weeks include an observational experience in a cardiac interventional unit, a cardiac surgical ICU and practical experience in an acute coronary care unit and a critical care step down unit. The program concludes with a final five week practicum in an ICU.
CCNG 5000 Theory
Students will examine their current practice and explore complex concepts and issues of adult critical care nursing. They will begin to transition their nursing practice into an evidence-based critical care nursing practice. Students will develop an understanding of the scope of a critical care nurse and begin to develop a nursing framework tool to use in their practice.
CCNG 5010 Theory
Students will draw from experience and expand on their knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, supporting lab work and pharmacology of the cardiovascular, hematological and immunological systems. They will integrate this knowledge to application of a nursing decision-making framework in critical care environments.
CCNG 5020 Practice
Students will recognize and interpret basic cardiac rhythms and dysrhythmias as well as basic 12-lead electrocardiograms. They will have practice experience in the lab to learn advanced nursing skills common to critical care settings. Students will use a simulator for practice and competency testing. They will complete two hospital clinical placements; one in a coronary care unit and the other in a critical care step-down unit.
CCNG 5030 Theory
Students will draw from experience and expand on their knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, supporting lab work and pharmacology of the pulmonary and neurological systems. They will integrate this knowledge into the application of a nursing decision-making framework in critical care environments.
CCNG 5040 Theory
Students will draw from experience and expand on their knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, supporting lab work and pharmacology of the gastrointestinal, endocrine and renal systems. They will learn about the care of clients with sepsis, shock, multisystem organ dysfunction, trauma, burns, surgery, ineffective thermoregulation and obstetrical emergencies. Students will integrate this knowledge to application of a nursing decision-making framework in critical care environments.
CCNG 5050 Practice
Students will practice in the lab and clinical settings to consolidate advanced critical care nursing skills. They will learn Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) theory and skills to current ACLS standards. Students will use simulators and case scenarios to integrate course theory and skills into practice.
OTHER
Programs, courses, services and other related activities may be offered on any day of the week.
The university calendar contains the rules and regulations that govern students while at the university; each student is responsible for being aware of these rules and regulations. The calendar is available online at: kwantlen.ca/calendar
Graduation
Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to receive a Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing.
