Approach to Critical Care Nursing
A six week online tutored CPD course with Elle Haskey and Katie Gray
Week 1
Recumbency Nursing
- Common causes for recumbency
- Nursing the recumbent patient
- Common complications associated with recumbency
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- List some of the common causes for recumbency and how these conditions may be treated
- Discuss the nursing considerations for the recumbent patient and how these can be implemented to help support the patient during their recovery whilst hospitalised
- Describe the common complications associated with recumbency and how these can be prevented whilst the patient is hospitalised
Week 2
Nutrition in the Hospitalised Patient
- Why is nutrition important?
- Who needs nutrition?
- When should nutrition be started?
- Creating a nutrition plan
- Assisted feeding options
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Understand why nutrition is important for the recovery of hospitalised patients
- Identify patients in needs of nutrition
- Discuss when is the appropriate time to start nutrition in their hospitalised patient
- Describe how to create a feeding plan including patient assessment, calculation of RER and implementation of the nutritional plan
- List the common assisted feeding techniques and understand the indications and contraindications of each
Week 3
Sepsis
- What is SIRS / sepsis?
- How to recognise sepsis in dogs
- How to recognise sepsis in cats
- Sepsis bundles
- Recent sepsis research in human medicine
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Know the definitions of SIRS / sepsis and the difference between them
- List the patient observations used to help us be able to recognise sepsis in the dog
- List the patient observations used to help us be able to recognise sepsis in the cat
- Understand what a sepsis bundle is, and when they can be used in practice
- Understand the recent research into sepsis in human medicine and how this impacts us in veterinary practice
Week 4
Acid Base / Electrolytes
- What is acid / base?
- What are electrolytes?
- Electrolytes – Sodium
- Electrolytes – Potassium
- Electrolytes – Calcium
- Glucose
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Explain acid / base status
- Understand which electrolytes we can measure in veterinary practice and why
- Identify when a patient may become hypo or hypernatraemic, and describe the treatments that may benefit them
- Identify when a patient may become hypo or hyperkalaemic, and describe the treatments that may benefit them
- Identify why a patient may be hypo or hypercalcaemic, and describe the treatments that may benefit them
- Identify why a patient may be hypo or hyper glycaemic, and describe the treatments that may benefit them
Week 5
Infection Control
- How to create an infection control plan for the clinic
- Assigning an infection control champion
- Identify and develop protocols
- Make an assessment
- Staff education and training plans
- Surveillance and compliance
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Identify an infection control champion in practice and understand their role in the infection control plan
- Discuss the common infection control protocols required in practice to minimise the spread of pathogens
- Understand how to make an assessment of the protocols already in place and identify their strengths and weaknesses
- Explain the importance of staff education and training when implementing infection control protocols
- List the common surveillance techniques to ensure compliance to the infection control plan
Week 6
End of Life Care and Clinical Governance
- Euthanasia
- Palliative care
- Mental health awareness
- Clinical governance in practice
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Understand the reasons vets and clients consider euthanasia, and learn ways to ensure the experience can be made as peaceful and calm as possible in practice for all involved
- Understand the reasons that clients may choose to consider palliative care, and how we can help ensure the patients are comfortable within our role as veterinary nurses
- Understand the impact of euthanasia and how the death of a pet can affect both the family of the patient and the veterinary staff involved
- Understand the mental health implications of veterinary medicine on the team, and ways in which we can help our team and ourselves to cope
- Describe what clinical governance is, what is discussed and why it may be beneficial to start holding these meetings in your practice
CPD Course Content
Modules
Status
1
Welcome
2
Week 1 - Recumbency Nursing Available on: 08/01/2024 12:00 am
3
Week 2 - Nutrition in the Hospitalised Patient Available on: 15/01/2024 12:00 am
4
Week 3 - Sepsis Available on: 22/01/2024 12:00 am
6
Week 5 - Infection Control Available on: 05/02/2024 12:00 am
7
Week 6 - End of Life Care and Clinical Governance Available on: 12/02/2024 12:00 am
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