Registered Nurse - Critical Care Nursing

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Program: RNCC
Credential: Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Delivery: Part-time, On-line
Work Integrated Learning: 1 Clinical Placement
Length: 1 Semester
Duration: 596 Hours
Effective: Fall 2024
Location: Barrie

Description

Students acquire advanced theoretical and clinical knowledge to enable them to practice competently in critical care settings. Through both online classroom instruction and clinical placements, students advance their professional nursing practice in critical care settings. Emphasis is placed on the development of critical thinking, care planning, and leadership skills. The combined theory and clinical experience encompasses the Critical Care Standards of Practice as outlined by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care and Critical Care Nursing Standards from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU).

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this program will be qualified to work within their scope of practice in the critical care setting.

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. practice within the scope of professional, legal and ethical standards, organization policies, and best practices in critical care nursing; 

2. establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with patients, families, and/or substitute decision makers to optimize patient and family-centred critical care; 
 
3. assess, analyze and monitor data for patients with complex, multi-system problems in order to anticipate early deterioration in patient’s condition, establish priorities, and plan interventions; 
 
4. plan, implement, evaluate and document specialized nursing interventions to achieve optimal patient outcomes in potential or actual life threatening illness and end-of-life situations; 
 
5. advocate for and deliver patient and family-centred care to patients/families experiencing potential or actual life threatening illness and end-of-life situations; 
 
6. collaborate with members of the inter-professional health care team in providing care for patients experiencing potential or actual life threatening illness and end-of-life situations to achieve continuity of care and optimal patient outcomes; 
 
7. use evidence-based research and best practice guidelines to inform and adapt critical care nursing practice;
 
8. use strategies and available resources to respond to environmental, physical and psychosocial stressors affecting self and others in the critical care setting; 
 
9. engage in reflective practice and ongoing professional development to enhance competence in critical care nursing.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have successfully completed a diploma or degree in nursing from an accredited nursing education program. Applicants must also hold current registration with the nursing regulatory body in their home province/state and or country.

Applicants for whom English is a foreign language must provide proof of language proficiency. Please refer to Georgian’s English Language Proficiency policy 2.5.

Selection Process

Applicants may be required to submit a current letter from an employer’s human resource department verifying the number of hours worked. Selection will be based on proof of 1500 hours in an acute care setting.

Criminal Reference/Vulnerable Sector Check

Placement agencies require an up-to-date clear criminal reference check and vulnerable sector check prior to going out on placement. Students should obtain their criminal reference three months prior to placement; checks conducted earlier may not be considered current. As some jurisdictions require longer lead-time for processing, please check with the program coordinator to ensure you allow for sufficient turn-around time. It is the student's responsibility to provide the completed document prior to placement start.

NOTE: Individuals who have been charged or convicted criminally and not pardoned will be prohibited from proceeding to a clinical or work placement.

Additional Information

Applicants must have up to date immunization records in compliance with the Public Hospital Act and current BCLS, HCP level CPR.

Graduation Requirements

8 Program Courses
1 Clinical Placement

Graduation Eligibility

To graduate from this program, a student must attain a minimum of 60% or a letter grade of P (Pass) or S (Satisfactory) in each course in each semester. The passing weighted average for promotion through each semester and to graduate is 60%.

Program Tracking 

The following reflects the planned course sequence for full-time offerings of the Fall intake of the program. Where more  than one intake is offered  contact the program co-ordinator for the program tracking.

Plan of Study Grid
Program CoursesHours
RNRS 1077 Foundations of Critical Care Nursing 56
RNRS 1047 Management of Burns and Renal Disorders 42
RNRS 1052 Management of Gastrointestinal and Endocrine Disorders 42
RNRS 1048 Rhythm Interpretation 42
RNRS 1078 Management of Neurological Disorders 42
RNRS 1079 Management of Cardiovascular Disorders 56
RNRS 1080 Management of Respiratory Disorders 56
RNRS 1081 Advanced Practice and Special Populations 56
Clinical Placement  
RNRS 1082 Critical Care Nursing Clinical Placement 204
 Hours596
 Total Hours596

Graduation Window

Students unable to adhere to the program duration of one semester (as stated above) may take a maximum of one year to complete their credential. After this time, students must be re-admitted into the program, and follow the curriculum in place at the time of re-admission. 

Disclaimer: The information in this document is correct at the time of publication. Academic content of programs and courses is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational objectives and employment market needs. 

Program outlines may be subject to change in response to emerging situations, in order to facilitate student achievement of the learning outcomes required for graduation. Components such as courses, progression, coop work terms, placements, internships and other requirements may be delivered differently than published.

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