Tehran University of Medical Sciences

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Critical Care Nursing

(General specifications, plans and headlines)

Final revision and editing

2016

Section I

1

Title: Critical Care Nursing

Degree: MSc

Introduction

Critical care nursing is the field of nursing with a focus on the utmost care of the critically ill

or unstable patients. These specialists generally take care of critically ill patients who require

mechanical ventilation by way of endotracheal intubation and vasoactive intravenous

medications. Critical Care Nurses are also known as ICU nurses. They treat patients who are

chronically ill or at risk for deadly illnesses. ICU nurse apply their specialized knowledge

base to care for and maintain the life support of critically ill patients who are often on the

verge of death. On a day-to-day basis a critical care nurse will commonly, "perform

assessments of critical conditions, give intensive therapy and intervention, advocate for their

patients, and operate/maintain life support systems which include mechanical ventilation via

endotracheal, tracheal, or naso-tracheal intubation, and titration of continuous vasoactive

intravenous medications in order to maintain a " mean arterial pressure that ensures adequate

organ and tissue perfusion.

Definition; Critical Care Nursing is one of the most distingue branches of nursing profession

which by improving nursing care, management, education, ethic and professional behavior

tries to reduce mortality and illness complications in critical care settings.

The aim of the course

Mission: mission of the program is to minimize mortality, illness complications and to

improve nursing practice in critical care settings as well as training competent, skillful and

responsible nurses.

Vision: The MSC Critical Care Nursing vision for the next ten years are;

To improve care delivery standards and nursing practice in critical care settings.

To minimize mortality by promoting worlds standards.

To increase the use of managerial, educational and research measurers in critical care

nursing.

To draw attention of health system managers and policy makers to critical care units

in hospitals.

Aims: the aim of program is to train proficient, knowledgeable, competent, ethically aware

and responsible professionals who would have sufficient knowledge and abilities to work

confidently in their main area of expertise (care of critically ill patients) and also to give them

extra abilities such as;

1. To improve nursing knowledge and skills

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2. To give better vision and ability to deliver high standard nursing care to patients in

critical care unites.

3. To improve; inter-personal, group and electronic communications skills, lifelong

learning, research, management, problem solving skills ext.

4. To improve knowledge and skills in professional manner and behavior

5. To improve IT skills and data retrieve

6. To improve necessary knowledge and skills in relation to management, organization,

planning and training of critical care nurses.

7. To improve nursing knowledge and skills by participating in training courses and

study as well as continuous self-evaluation.

8. To improve the abilities of critical thinking and problem solving.

General competencies

Communication skills, interviewing, reporting, critical thinking, professionalism as well as:

Concepts and theories in nursing

Evidence-based practice

Research methodology in nursing

Statistics for nursing research

Specific Competencies and Skills (Special Qualifications)

To deliver skilled and evidenced-based nursing care and intervention for patients who

need intensive care.

To assess patients non-invasively and help invasive assessment of patients in critical care

units.

To interpret and analyze clinical data

Acquiring qualifications for conducting applied researches and employing the findings to

solve nursing problems in the care of patients.

The Terms and Conditions of Admission to the Course

Holding a BSc degree in nursing received in Iran or abroad

Participating in the national Masters entrance exam and becoming qualified

Being mentally and physically healthy

Educational Strategies, Methods and Techniques

Educational Strategies: Task-based learning blended learning (teacher-centered and student-

centered), blended learning (attendance and DLN), problem-based learning, professional

competency-based learning, and evidence-based learning.

Methods and Techniques: lecture (question & answer, video clip), journal club, case

presentation, discussions in small groups, seminars and conferences, site visits (for example,

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Nursing Office of the Tehran university of medical sciences, and Iranian nursing

organization), and clinical and managerial practice in health care fields).

Student Assessment

Written assessment [multiple choice questions (MCQ), essay (restricted & extended answer)],

oral assessment (unstructured and structured oral exams), interactive computer test, and

practical assessment (projects, Portfolio, and Logbook, lab observations).

Numbers and Types of Credits and Tables of the Courses

Prerequisite courses: 4 credits

Core Courses: 28 credits

Dissertation: 4 credits

Total Number of Credits: 32

4

Table 1 Prerequisite Courses

Co

urse co

de

Course title

Credits Total hours Requ

iremen

t

theo

retical

practical

practicu

m

intern

ship

total

theo

retical

practical

practicu

m

intern

ship

total

01 Advanced statistics and research

methodology

2 1 - - 3 34 34 - - 68 -

02 Information technology in

healthcare system

0.5 0.5 - - 1 8 17 - - 25 -

Total credits= 4 2.5 1.5 - - 4 42 51 - - 93 -

Cod of

course

Course title Credits Hours Requirement

Theory Practical Placement Total

04 Introduction to critical care

nursing

1 17 - - 17 -

05 Nursing practice in critical

care units

3 51 - - 51

06 Advance nursing

observation

3 51 - - 51

07 Pharmacology 1 17 - - 17

08 General topics in organ

transplant nursing

1 17 - - 17

Total 9

5

Cod of

course

Course title Credits Hours Requirement

Theory Practical Placement Total

09 Critical care

nursing 1

(Respiratory

system)

3 26 - 77 103 04-05-06-

07-08

10 Critical care

nursing 2

(cardiovascular-

cardiothoracic

surgery)

3 26 - 77 103 04-05-06-

07-08

11 Critical care

nursing 3

(nevus system-

neurosurgery,

psychiatric

disorder)

2 17 - 51 68 04-05-06-

07-08

12 Critical care

nursing 4

(Renal system-

urinary tract

surgery)

2 17 - 51 68 04-05-06-

07-08

13 Critical care

nursing 5

(Endocrine

glands-Obstetrics

and Gynecology

diseases)

1 9 - 26 35 04-05-06-

07-08

14 Critical care

nursing 6

6 (digestive

system-

abdominal and

2 17 - 51 68 04-05-06-

07-08

6

pelvic surgery)

15 Critical care

nursing 7

(oncology and

blood, immune

system and

infectious

diseases)

2 17 - 51 68 04-05-06-

07-08

16 Critical care

nursing 8

(basic principles

of nursing care in

traumatic

injuries)

3 26 - 77 103 04-05-06-

07-08

17 Critical care

nursing 9

nursing (vascular

and orthopedic

surgery)

1 9 - 17 26 04-05-06-

07-08

18 Dissertation* 4 - - - 4

Total 23

*MSc Dissertation Proposal

The thesis proposal describes the rationale for the proposed research, and outlines its basic

components. The proposal is submitted to the departments research committee members

(consisting of a dissertation advisor, departments head, and the department education and

research representatives) for the final evaluation and approval.

Dissertation Defense

The student and the thesis committee are required to comply with the guidelines of School of

Nursing and Midwifery with regard to the presentation of the thesis and meeting the

deadlines for graduation. During the viva, the jury committee will thoroughly examine the

students knowledge in the related area of the research

7

Ethical issues

The graduates should,

Observe the Patient's Bill of Rights1 when working with the patients.

Strictly observe Biosafety and Patient Safety Rules* concerning the patients, pers