Week 1

Monitoring Modalities

There are many advanced monitoring tools and nursing interventions that can be used in our patients, however, a key part of this is deciding when it is appropriate to employ them. We will discuss and compare different monitoring tools that we have available, including:

Blood pressure monitoring – invasive versus non-invasive

Central venous pressure

ECG

Blood gases – venous versus arterial

We will also explore when these monitoring tools may be beneficial compared with when their use might be contraindicated.

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Determine which patients would benefit from more intensive monitoring

Understand how to conduct each kind of monitoring and explain the information we can obtain

Understand the difference between arterial blood pressure monitoring and central venous pressure

Understand the complications of using the more invasive monitoring tools

Week 2

Tubes and Drains

Various tubes and drains are commonly used in critically ill ICU patients, and it is vital we understand how to manage these safely and effectively. We will look at a variety of different tubes and drains including Jackson Pratt drains and active grenades, thoracic tubes, tracheostomy tubes and pericardiocentesis catheters among others.

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand the different drains and their functions

Safely manage and nurse patients with various types of tubes

Understand the complications that may occur with various interventions

Confidently troubleshoot drain management

Week 3

Cardiovascular Support

Sometimes fluids just aren’t enough! There are a variety of issues we can encounter with our critically ill patients and cardiovascular support and monitoring becomes an important aspect of the RVN’s role. We will look at the different causes of cardiovascular instability and how we can address those including the use of vasopressors and inotropes.

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand the methods of monitoring that can assist with determining both low and high-volume states

Identify cases where the use of vasopressors and inotropes are indicated

Explain the different conditions that lead to changes in cardiovascular function

Understand the ECG assessment and recognise the main life threatening abnormalities

Week 4

Constant Rate Infusions

Constant rate infusions are commonly used in the ICU, and it is really useful for RVN’s to be able to calculate these dosages. Whilst the maths can sometimes seem baffling, if you understand the basics, it is a very useful skill. CRIs are very beneficial for many of our patients and are attainable in any practice with an infusion pump.

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Calculate ANY CRI from scratch!

Understand the benefits and issues associated with use of CRIs

Understand multimodal analgesia options for critically ill patients