STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 1. Apply advanced concepts of medical/surgical nursing to provide safe, quality, evidence-based, patient-centered care to diverse patients with high acuity medical/surgical conditions.

 2. Engage in critical thinking and clinical reasoning to make patient-centered care decisions for patients with high acuity medical/surgical conditions.

 3. Select quality improvement measures to use in the care of patients with high acuity medical/surgical conditions.

 4. Engage in collaborative relationships with members of the interdisciplinary team, the patient, and the patient’s support persons when caring for patients with high acuity medical/surgical conditions.

 5. Analyze the role of information management principles, techniques, and systems, and patient care technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making when caring for patients with high acuity medical/surgical conditions.

 6. Analyze leadership approaches used in the medical/surgical setting.

 7. Apply professional, legal, and ethical guidelines in practice as a professional nurse in the care of patients with high acuity medical/surgical conditions.

 8. Analyze how a culture of caring can be promoted to provide holistic, compassionate, culturally-competent care.

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I. Application of key concepts to medical/surgical nursing practice of high acuity patients

 A.  Patient-centered care

 B.  Quality/Safety measures

 C.  Critical thinking/Clinical reasoning

 D.  Collaborative relationships

 E.  Information Technology

 F.  Advocacy

 G.  Culture of Caring

 H.  Leadership approaches

 II. Introduction of medical/surgical nursing for high acuity patients

  A.  Evidence-based practice

 B.  Professional, Legal-ethical issues

 C.  Cultural/Spiritual beliefs and practices

 D.  Advanced assessment skills

 E.  Health Promotion and  Risk Assessment

 III. Advanced Concepts of Oxygenation/Transport and Tissue Perfusion

 A.  Acute Coronary Syndrome/Acute Myocardial Infarction

 B.  Basic Dysrhythmias

 C.  Cardiomyopathy

 D.  Inflammatory Cardiac Disease

 E.  Cardiogenic Shock

 F.  Thoracic Trauma and Surgery

 1.  Pneumothorax/ Care of the Patient with Chest Tube

 G.  Pulmonary embolism

      IV.   Hematologic Nursing Care

 A.  Blood Transfusions

 V.  Advanced Concepts of Human Protective Mechanisms

 A.  Cancer (all forms)

      1.  Treatment/Therapy

 VI Advanced Concepts of Mobility, Sensation, and Cognition

 A.  Acute Neurological Nursing Care

 1. Spinal Cord Injury

 2. Traumatic Brain Injury

 3. Increased Intracranial Pressure

 4. Neurogenic (Distributive) Shock

 5. Stroke

 B.  Chronic Neurological Nursing Care

 1. Multiple Sclerosis

 2. Parkinsons

 VII. Advanced Concepts of Nutrition, Metabolism and Elimination

 A.  Gastrointestinal Nursing Care

 1. Cholecystitis

 2. Pancreatitis/Cancer

 3. Liver Disease/Cancer

 4. GI Bleeding

 5. GI Cancers

 6. Total Parenteral Nutrition/Peripheral Parenteral Nutrition

 B.  Endocrine Nursing Care

 1.  Diabetic Keto-Acidosis/Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Syndrome

 2.  Cushing’s Syndrome

 3. Addison’s Disease

 4. Syndrome of Inapropriate Antidiauretic Hormone (SIADH)

 5. Diabetes Insipidus

 VIII. Advanced Concepts of Fluid and Electrolyte and Acid/Base Balance

 A.  Acid Base Concepts

 1.  ABG Interpretation

 2.  Respiratory Acidosis/Alkalosis

 3.  Metabolic Acidosis/Alkalosis

 4.  Compensation

 B.  Fluid and electrolytes

 1. TPN

 2. Medication Titration

 3. Fluid/Electrolyte Replacement