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Course code
Qualifications are made up of courses. Some universities call these papers. Each course is numbered using six digits.
- 168737
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Level
The fourth number of the course code shows the level of the course. For example, in course 219206, the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study).
- 700-level
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Credits
Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.
- 30
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Subject
- Nursing
Course planning information
Course notes
Students must be employed in a critical care setting and have completed at least an orientation in their unit before starting the course. - This course is designed to build foundational nursing knowledge and skills essential for the safe care of critically ill patients and their families. It explores key principles, concepts, and practices in critical care nursing, equipping students to provide comprehensive care in high-acuity settings. - The course is suitable for registered nurses working in any critical care environment—ranging from specialized ward-based care to intensive care, high dependency units, step-down units, emergency departments, or post-anaesthetic care, where patients require close monitoring and advanced interventions. - The course is 30 credits providing 300 hours of direct and self-directed learning in an online teaching and learning format. This equates to 25 hours of learning per week made up of 15 hours for the online learning and 10 hours of reading and assessment. Study days will not be offered at the request of some regional areas who cannot afford to release staff for a full day of study due to workforce shortages. However, there will be weekly recorded tutorials and virtual drop-in sessions, all of which will also be recorded for students who are not able to attend the sessions.
All assessments are compulsory
Expected prior learning
Registered Nurses with a current NZ practicing certificate who are currently working in a level 1, 2, or 3 critical care area.
General progression requirements
You may enrol in a postgraduate course (that is a 700-, 800- or 900-level course) if you meet the prerequisites for that course and have been admitted to a qualification which lists the course in its schedule.Learning outcomes
What you will learn. Knowledge, skills and attitudes you’ll be able to show as a result of successfully finishing this course.
- 1 Practice within a Tiriti-led, trauma-informed framework that recognises how cultural, social and personal factors influence responses to care.
- 2 Identify common critical care presentations and the strategies available to managing care within the context of practice.
- 3 Apply theoretical knowledge to assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care for critically ill patients using evidence-based practice to guide clinical decision making.
- 4 Communicate effectively with patients, families, and interdisciplinary healthcare teams in critical care environments.
- 5 Identify potential complications and develop strategies for prevention and management in critical care.
- 6 Develop strategies to promote patient safety, quality improvement, and risk management in critical care settings.
Learning outcomes can change before the start of the semester you are studying the course in.
Assessments
| Assessment | Learning outcomes assessed | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Participation | 2 5 6 | 30% |
| Written Assignment | 1 2 3 4 5 6 | 40% |
| Portfolio | 1 3 4 | 30% |
Assessment weightings can change up to the start of the semester the course is delivered in.
You may need to take more assessments depending on where, how, and when you choose to take this course.
Explanation of assessment types
Explanation of assessment types
- Computer programmes
- Computer animation and screening, design, programming, models and other computer work.
- Creative compositions
- Animations, films, models, textiles, websites, and other compositions.
- Exam College or GRS-based (not centrally scheduled)
- An exam scheduled by a college or the Graduate Research School (GRS). The exam could be online, oral, field, practical skills, written exams or another format.
- Exam (centrally scheduled)
- An exam scheduled by Assessment Services (centrally) – you’ll usually be told when and where the exam is through the student portal.
- Oral or performance or presentation
- Debates, demonstrations, exhibitions, interviews, oral proposals, role play, speech and other performances or presentations.
- Participation
- You may be assessed on your participation in activities such as online fora, laboratories, debates, tutorials, exercises, seminars, and so on.
- Portfolio
- Creative, learning, online, narrative, photographic, written, and other portfolios.
- Practical or placement
- Field trips, field work, placements, seminars, workshops, voluntary work, and other activities.
- Simulation
- Technology-based or experience-based simulations.
- Test
- Laboratory, online, multi-choice, short answer, spoken, and other tests – arranged by the school.
- Written assignment
- Essays, group or individual projects, proposals, reports, reviews, writing exercises, and other written assignments.
Textbooks needed
There are no set texts for this course.