Approach to Critical Care Nursing

Week 1 - Recumbency Nursing

• Common causes for recumbency
• Nursing the recumbent patient
• Common complications associated with recumbency

Learning outcomes:

• 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 - 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 outcomes:

• 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 3 - 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 outcomes:

• 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 4 - Acid Base/Electrolytes 

• What is acid / base?
• What are electrolytes?
• Electrolytes – Sodium
• Electrolytes – Potassium
• Electrolytes – Calcium
• Glucose

Learning outcomes:

• 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 outcomes:

• 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 outcomes:

• 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

The course will be fully tutored by Elle Haskey and Katie Gray and will consist of 15 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case scenarios, forum discussions and quizzes.

For some further information about our Online Tutored CPD courses - please open the guide below:

ONLINE TUTORED CPD COURSES - PDF GUIDE