November 08, 2011
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Higher Education
University of Ha’il
Faculty of Nursing
First Semester 2010/2011
Course Syllabus
Title: Critical Adult Care Nursing (Theory)
Code: NURS 411
Course prerequisite: NURS 313, NURS 314
Course co-requisite: NURS 412
Course Level: 3rd year.
Lecture Time: Saturdays 10.00-12.00 noon
Wednesdays 10.00 – 11.00 AM.
Credit hours: 3 hours.
Faculty Member
Name
Rank
Dr. Belal Hijji, RN, PhD
Office Number
and Location
Assistant
First floor 9-128
Professor
Office
Hours
Check
my
Office
door
E-mail Address/ Website
b.hijah@uoh.edu.sa
http://faculty.uoh.edu.sa/b.hijah/
I. CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION:
This course equips the student with the theoretical basis required for the care of
patients in critical care areas who suffer from certain cardiovascular, pulmonary,
neurological, gastrointestinal, renal, and endocrine alterations.
II. GENERAL OBJECTIVES:
A. Describe some common cardiac alterations including coronary artery
disease, cardiogenic shock and dysarrhythmias and discuss their
management.
B. Discuss acute respiratory distress syndrome and pulmonary embolism as
two
specific
pulmonary
alterations
along
with
their
associated
pathophysiological changes, assessment and diagnosis, and medical and
nursing management.
C. Discuss the medical and nursing management of a patient with neurological
disorders including coma and stroke.
D. Discuss the causes of acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage and acute
pancreatitis, associated pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, assessment
and diagnosis along with medical and nursing management.
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November 08, 2011
E. Explain the common causes of acute tubular necrosis (ATN), its
pathophysiology and phases, risk factors for its development, and various
aspects of its medical and nursing management.
F. Discuss neuroendocrine response to acute and prolonged critical illness.
G. Describe medical and nursing management of hyperglycemia and
hypoglycaemia.
H. Discuss the various aspects related to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and
hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar state (HHS).
III. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS:
Urden, N.; Stacy, K. and Lough, M. (2010). Critical Care Nursing: Diagnosis and
Management. 6th edition. Mosby: St. Louis, Missouri.
IV. COURSE OUTLINE*:
Date
Unit Title
Contents
28.09 - 22.10
UNIT 1: CARDIOVASCULAR
ALTERATIONS
26.10 – 29.10
UNIT 2: PULMONARY
ALTERATIONS
31.10 – 11.11
12.11
UNIT 3: NEUROLOGICAL
ALTERATIONS
16.11.11
19.11 – 23.11
26.11 – 30.11
UNIT 4: GASTROINTESTINAL
ALTERATIONS
03.12.11
07.12
UNIT
5:
ALTERATIONS
UNIT 6: ENDOCRINE
17.12 – 21.12 ALTERATIONS
10.12 – 14.12
RENAL
 Coronary Artery Disease
 Cardiogenic Shock
 Dysarrhythmias
 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
 Pulmonary Embolism
Eid Al Adha Holiday
 Coma
First Examination
 Stroke
 Acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage
 Acute pancreatitis
Second Examination
 Acute pancreatitis (Continued…)

Acute tubular necrosis

Neuroendocrinology of stress and
critical illness
Diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA)
DKA (Continued…)
Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state
(HHS)



24.12 –28.12
31.12.11 –
12/1/2012
Final Examinations
*NOTE: The above information is a general outline of the material covered. The
Faculty member reserves the right to alter the material either by adding or deleting as
conditions and time allows.
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November 08, 2011
V. SPECIFIC UNIT THEORY BEHAVIOURAL OBJECTIVES:
Upon the completion of these units, the student will:
Unit I: Cardiovascular Alterations
1. Provide brief description of CAD and its etiology.
2. Discuss the risk factors for the development of CAD and describe its
pathophysiology.
3. Define unstable angina, recognise its medical and nursing management.
4. Define MI and describe its pathophysiology in brief.
5. Discuss the medical and nursing management of patient with acute MI.
6. Provide a brief description of the cardiogenic shock, its etiology, and its
pathophysiology.
7. Identify the clinical manifestations of cardiogenic shock.
8. Discuss the medical and nursing management of a patient with cardiogenic shock.
9. Describe the normal electrical conduction of the heart.
10. Discuss the characteristics of various types of sinus node and ventricular
dysarrhythmias.
11. Describe the nursing management of a patient with dysarrhythmias.
Unit II: Pulmonary Alterations
1. Define acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), describe its pathophysiology
and clinical manifestations.
2. Discuss the process of assessment and diagnostic findings of ARDS.
3. Discuss the medical and nursing management of ARDS.
4. Describe pulmonary embolism (PE), its pathophysiological changes, and discuss
its clinical manifestations.
5. Identify the diagnostic test that may be used to diagnose PE.
6. Discuss the medical and nursing management of PE.
Unit III: Neurological Alterations
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Describe what coma is, identify its causes, and discuss its pathophysiology.
Discuss assessment and clinical diagnosis of coma and vegetative state.
Describe the medical and nursing management of coma.
Briefly describe what stroke is and its incidence.
Differentiate between ischaemic and hemorrhagic stroke.
Discuss the etiology, pathophysiology, assessment and diagnosis, and medical
management of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.
7. Discuss the nursing management of a patient with stroke.
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Unit IV: Gastrointestinal Alterations.
1. Discuss the main causes of gastrointestinal bleeding that are seen in the intensive
care unit (ICU).
2. Briefly describe the pathophysiology, assessment and diagnosis, and medical
management of gastrointestinal bleeding.
3. Discuss the nursing management of a patient with gastrointestinal bleeding.
4. Define acute pancreatitis, identify its causes, and describe the pathophysiological
changes associated with it.
5. Discuss assessment and diagnosis of acute pancreatitis along with its medical
management.
6. Discuss the various aspects of nursing management of a patient with acute
pancreatitis
Unit V: Renal Alterations
1. Explain the common causes of acute tubular necrosis (ATN) and its
pathophysiology.
2. Identify the four phases of ATN and their characteristics.
3. Discuss assessment and diagnostic findings of ATN.
4. Identify disease states that increase the risk of ATN.
5. Discuss the importance of hemodynamic monitoring and fluid balance in a
patient with ATN.
6. Discuss the medical, pharmacological, and nutritional management of ATN.
7. Discuss the nursing management of a patient with ATN.
Unit VI: Endocrine Alterations
1.
2.
3.
4.
Describe the neuroendcrinology of stress and critical illness.
Discuss neuroendocrine response to acute and prolonged critical illness.
Identify the causes of adrenal gland dysfunction.
Describe hyperglycemia and blood glucose management in critically ill
patients.
5. Discuss insulin and hypoglycemia management in critically ill patients.
6. Discuss nursing management of a patient with neuroendocrine stress resulting
from critical illness.
7. Identify the diagnostic criteria for, and etiology of, diabetic ketoacidosis
(DKA).
8. Discuss the pathophysiology and assessment and diagnostic findings of DKA.
9. Discuss the medical and nursing management of DKA.
10. Describe hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) and identify its diagnostic
criteria.
11. Describe the pathophysiology of DKA along with its assessment and
diagnostic findings.
12. Discuss the medical and nursing management of DKA.
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VI. ATTENDANCE AND TARDY POLICY:
CLASSROOM: Absence from lectures shall not exceed 20%. Students who exceed
the 20% limit shall not be allowed to take the final examination and shall receive a
mark of zero for the course. A student will be considered tardy if he/she comes into
the classroom more than 10 minutes after the scheduled time. For each tardy, the
student will lose 0.5 point.
VII. CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE:
An integral part of an education is developing a sense of integrity and responsibility,
not only toward instructors, but also toward other students. In the classroom,
demonstrating appropriate behaviour reflects on your maturity. Arriving late to class
and inappropriate and talking while class is in progress negatively reflects on you and
your fellow students. Always switch off your mobile before entering the classroom.
Please be considerate.
VIII. TEACHING METHODS:
 Lecture
 Group discussion
IX. MODE of ASSESSMENT:
Units of Evaluation
Score
First Exam
25 Points
Second Exam
25 Points
Classroom attendance
10 Points
Final Exam
40 Points
Total
100
 Make-up exams will be offered for valid reasons only. Make-up exams may be
different from regular exams in content and format.
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