Programs

Course Description:

The Basic Critical Care Nursing Course is a five day program intended to provide the new nurses with an overview of critical care nursing practice. It will present the physiological concepts that will be the basis of understanding the diseases and nursing assessment. The course will offer an opportunity for nurses to develop critical thinking by integrating knowledge about the disease, assessment, intervention and management. The course will have a four-day didactic and one-day workshop period to enable the participants to develop basic skills necessary in a simulated environment. 

Specific Objectives:

After the course, the participants will be able to:

1. Discuss an overview of the conceptual foundation of critical care nursing
• Scope of critical care nursing practice
• Use of the nursing process
• Critical care environment
2. Describe the phenomena of concern in critical care nursing
• Breathing, Tissue perfusion and gas exchange
• Cardiac electrical activity
• Regulation of fluid and electrolyte balance
• Pain
• Nutrition
3. Identify patient care problems through appropriate assessment in relation to the
• Cardiovascular system
• Pulmonary system
• Neurologic system
• Renal system
• Multisystem
4. Demonstrate basic skills in utilizing the following
• Hemodynamic monitoring
• Mechanical ventilation
• Neurological assessment tools
• Cardiovascular drug support formulas and dosages
5. Formulate a comprehensive plan of care for the critically – ill adult and pediatric patient.

Course Description:

This is a three-day course that will provide novice nurses with a step-by-step approach to rhythm and conduction analysis and interpretation. It will use methodology that will enhance the comprehension skill of the participants preparing them to appreciate the graphic interpretation and comprehension of EKG lines and waves.

Specific Objectives:

After the course, the participants will be able to:

1. Describe the components of the cardiac conduction system incorporating cardiac anatomy and physiology;
2. Interpret and analyze ECG strips and determine, rate, regularity and rhythm;
3. Identify rhythms originating in the sinus node and atria, junction (AV node) and ventricles;
4. Discuss the significance of the rhythm and conduction patterns;
5. Recognize various degree of AV blocks with their significance and treatment;
6. Identify potentially life-threatening rhythms and initial interventions / approach to treatment;
7. Enhance comprehension and interpretation skills through workshop drills for EKG interpretation;
8. Landmark appropriately lead placement during EKG taking; and
9. Provide appropriate nursing action for clients with cardiac dysrhythmia.

This is an eight-hour program that will provide the nurses with fundamental concepts in Arterial Blood Gas analysis that can be used to evaluate gas exchange in the lungs. Principles focusing on the assessment of the integrity of the ventilatory control system will be discussed to determine the acid-base level of the blood. Likewise, the nurses will be able to gain confidence in monitoring respiratory therapy through competent evaluation and interpretation of the gas exchange in the lungs.

This program entitled “Care of the Patient with Central Line” will provide advanced clinical concepts and practice in the area of advanced intravenous therapy such as vascular access device insertions and care, complete infusion support, and clinical simulation. It will provide comparison of different major types of central venous catheters (CVCs) to aid the nurses in analyzing and evaluating the salient features, risks and benefits associated with each type. Evidence-based findings will be used to recommend a CVC that would provide the most efficient and safe means for usage in critical care settings. Likewise, with the understanding of the concepts and principles related to central line the nurse will be able to provide appropriate care for the patient with central line.

This eight- hour program is designed to provide nurses with concepts relevant to performing a comprehensive neurological assessment in any given setting and in their care of any type of patient. Neurologic assessment will not just take place in neurological units and the Emergency Department. Likewise, a patient who doesn't have a neurologic diagnosis may also require a neurological assessment; for example, a patient with pneumonia can develop neurologic changes due to hypoxia or a post-op patient may have a neurologic deficit due to blood loss. No matter what setting the nurses work in, they will have to perform a neurologic assessment at some point. The purpose of this program will center not only how to perform a solid neurologic assessment, but also how the nurse can tailor the assessment to any given situation  

This eight-hour course on Hemodynamic Monitoring will review the methods and measurement of hemodynamic parameters such as CVP measurement, mean arterial pressure, cardiac output and intra-cardiac pressures that are important to the care and treatment of critically ill patients. Nurses are responsible for the collection, measurement and interpretation of these dynamic patient status parameters. The course will begin with methods of noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring, and then continue on to invasive monitoring with Central Venous Pressure (CVP), Arterial Pressure, and Pulmonary Artery Catheter (PAC) monitoring.

Documentation might seem less critical than other more client-centered tasks, yet, it plays a significant role in everything from planning the best care to preventing negligence in practice. Through this eight-hour program, the nurse will be able to learn skills that will demonstrate clear writing, critical thinking and objective communication that will reflect salient health care facts.

Nurses who are working in the critical care areas are important in this supportive therapy because they administer nutritional formulas to critically ill patients. A number of clinical trials indicated the benefits of providing nutrition support, particularly enteral feedings, to critically ill patients. Important outcomes such as rates of infection, lengths of stay, and costs can be decreased by the early initiation of enteral feedings. Despite knowledge of these benefits, the actual nutrition support received by patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) is not always optimal for various reasons.

Patient safety is of primary importance within health-systems; however, medication errors continue to occur at an alarming rate. Regulatory and accrediting organizations have developed standards addressing medication safety; yet, additional focus should be achieved to minimize if not prevent errors. This is a four-hour program that will provide nurses with an overview of strategies and initiatives to enhance medication safety particularly on high alert medications (HAM). Additionally, this program will identify high alert medications and processes prone to error and describe how medication infusion technologies may help prevent those errors.

Course Objective:

• To train participants to save lives of victims through high-quality CPR
• To prepare health care professionals to know how to perform CPR in both in-and out-of hospital settings.
• To train participants as part of the team and individually to give high-quality chest compressions, promptly recognize cardiac arrest, deliver ventilation and provide early use of an automates external defibrillator (AED)
• To teach participants on how to relieve chocking.

Methodology:

1. Hands-on Training: 6 participants to one instructor; 3 participants to 1 manikin and AED
2. Practice While Watching (PWW)
3. Includes Adult, Child & Infant rescue techniques
4. Limited number of participants per program

Course Objective:

• For healthcare providers to either direct or participate in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest or other cardiovascular emergencies.
• Didactic instruction and active participation in simulated cases that will enhance skills in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiopulmonary arrest, acute arrhythmia, stroke, and acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
• Improve outcomes for adult patients with cardiac arrest or other cardio-pulmonary emergencies through provider training.

Methodology:

1. 2 day course
2. Case-based scenarios
3. Team approach
4. Practice While Watching (PWW)
5. Limited number of participants per program