Critical Care PG Cert

• Critical Care: This module provides a partnership between theoretical knowledge and practical competence as supported by the National Standards for Critical Care Nurse Education (Critical Care National Nurse Network Leads 2012). You will be required to provide safe, high quality care for the critically ill. Through this module you will learn strategies to support improvements in critical care practice. Thus such safety and quality of care becomes embedded within your clinical practice through the ability to continually re-evaluate and enhance care. It is recognised that the critical care environment is constantly changing especially with the emergence of new technologies and therapies to facilitate patient recovery from an often life threatening illness. To be able to care for the critically ill patient expertly, critical care nurses need to ensure they develop and maintain their own competence in practice. The importance of competence within nursing is recognised as one of the six 'Cs' fundamental to the vision of developing a culture of compassion and care (Department of Health 2012). As a theory/practice you will learn both in the classroom and in the practice area. Learning and teaching methods in the classroom will include a variety of methods such as lectures, seminars, scenario based group work and simulation.

Your theory will be assessed through a reflexive assignment to explore and enhance your emotional literacy, a short answer examination paper-based around a clinical scenario and an oral examination (viva). An essential element of assessment is the time spent working within critical care with level 2 and 3 patients (Intensive Care Society 2009). The support of clinical mentors is used to achieve step 2 and step 3 competencies as determined by the Critical Care National Nurse Network Leads (2013).