Registered Nurse - Critical Care Nursing - 871
Overview
Critical Care Nurses provide care to patients that are in critical condition. As a highly specialized role within a hospital, knowledge of a critical care nurse ranges from neuroscience to cardiovascular care, respiratory care and more.
Designed for RNs looking to prepare for a career in a critical care setting, or those currently employed in a critical care setting who wish to improve their knowledge and skills, this program combines both theory and hands-on practice to prepare you to function effectively in a critical care setting.
This program will also help prepare you for the CNA Critical Care Nursing Certification Examination (opens new window).
View courses available this term under Program of Studies.
You do not need to apply to begin this program, simply ensure you meet the admission requirements (listed on the Admission & Registration tab) and then you may register for any available courses.
The program's 6 theory courses, offered online, examine such topics as:
- Current trends in critical care nursing
- The importance of reflective practice
- The rationale for completing head to toe assessments of the various systems (respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, renal and gastrointestinal)
- Anatomy and physiology of each system and the critical conditions that can affect each system, including the treatments and nursing interventions related to the care of the critically ill client and family.
Admission & Registration
- Proof of current RN registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
There are a number of ways to register. Visit our how to register page for more information. Clinical courses are designated (SA) and thus departmental approval is required for registration with proof of admission requirements.
Program of Studies
The program of studies displayed below applies to students starting the program in the current academic year. Students who began in other academic years may require different courses to be eligible to graduate. If you have questions regarding a strategy for completion contact Continuing Education - Health and Nursing .
Click on the Course number or Course title for more information on each course.
Visit the Mohawk College Bookstore Textbook Search (opens in new window) for information on textbooks.
A selection of courses are available each term. Courses that are currently not available (N/A) for registration may be offered in the future – check back frequently.
NOTE: YOU MUST register for HLTH10223 to complete required health clearances prior to registration in Clinical Placements.
Mandatory Courses
| Register | Course number | Course title | Course Hours | |||||||||||||
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| N/A | CLIN10004 | Critical Care Respiratory Clinical | 24.00 | |||||||||||||
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| N/A | CLIN10005 | Critical Care Cardiovascular Clinical | 24.00 | |||||||||||||
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| N/A | CLIN10006 | Critical Care Neuroscience Clinical | 24.00 | |||||||||||||
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| N/A | CLIN10092 | Critical Care GI/GU Clinical | 12.00 | |||||||||||||
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| N/A | NRSG10002 | Critical Care Cardiovascular | 45.00 | |||||||||||||
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| N/A | NRSG10003 | Critical Care Neuroscience | 45.00 | |||||||||||||
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| N/A | NRSG10004 | Critical Care GI/GU | 45.00 | |||||||||||||
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| N/A | NRSG10099 | Critical Care Introduction | 45.00 | |||||||||||||
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| N/A | NRSG10100 | Critical Care Respiratory | 45.00 | |||||||||||||
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| N/A | NRSG10101 | Special Populations in Critical Care | 45.00 | |||||||||||||
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Course Schedule
The list of scheduled course offerings for this program is below. Please note that all offerings are subject to change. Not every course is offered every semester, so please consider this schedule when planning your academic path.
| Course Code | Course Name | Fall (Sep to Dec) |
Winter (Jan to Apr) |
Spring (May to Aug) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRSG10099 | Critical Care Introduction |
MyCanvas |
MyCanvas |
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| NRSG10002 | Critical Care Cardiovascular |
MyCanvas |
MyCanvas |
MyCanvas |
| NRSG10003 | Critical Care Neuroscience | MyCanvas | MyCanvas | MyCanvas |
| NRSG10004 | Critical Care GI/GU | MyCanvas | MyCanvas | MyCanvas |
| NRSG10100 | Critical Care Respiratory | MyCanvas | MyCanvas | MyCanvas |
| NRSG10101 | Special Populations in Critical Care | MyCanvas | MyCanvas | MyCanvas |
| CLIN10004 | Critical Care Respiratory Clinical | FieldWork | FieldWork | FieldWork |
| CLIN10005 | Critical Care Cardiovascular Clinical | FieldWork | FieldWork | FieldWork |
| CLIN10006 | Critical Care Neuroscience Clinical | FieldWork | FieldWork | FieldWork |
| CLIN10092 | Critical Care GI/GU Clinical | FieldWork | FieldWork | FieldWork |
Getting Started
Visit CE Get Started, your go-to online resource for getting started. You’ll find information on online tools and the wide range of student services available to you to support your success as a Mohawk College student and to help you achieve your future goals!
Login to MyMohawk
MyMohawk is the college portal used to access your student account information, email, grades and more. Your username and password can be found on the Continuing Education Acknowledgement of Registration & Student Account form that was sent to you after you registered for your course. Visit the Getting Started - MyMohawk Guide for step-by-step instructions.
Access Mohawk Email
On the MyMohawk Home screen you will see a link to Mohawk email. Visit the Getting Started – Mohawk Email Guide to learn how to set up your account on your devices.
Access MyCanvas
On the MyMohawk Home screen you will see a link to MyCanvas, Mohawk College’s Learning Management System. Visit the Getting Started - MyCanvas Guide for step-by-step instructions. Please note your course will not appear in MyCanvas until the scheduled start date.
Find your Textbook
Use the Mohawk College Textbook Search to find your course materials.
Explore Contacts and Services
Online Learning
Online learning courses provide you with the opportunity to learn online, anywhere, at your convenience! You can study at home or at work - wherever you like, whenever you like, within a predetermined time frame.
Courses are delivered over a set time period and are led by instructors. Most courses do not require that you be online at a certain time of day or night, but that you are active in the course during the schedule. There are scheduled start and end dates and you cannot start courses late nor finish early.
Visit the MyCanvas Course page for registration information and a step-by-step guide to get started. Please note your course will not appear in MyCanvas until the scheduled start date.
Field Placement / Clinical
Preclinical / Clinical Information
Students preparing for Clinical Placement should visit our Preclinical / Clinical webpage and our Clinical FAQ for details and information on the process.
There are 4 clinical placements which are to be completed upon successful completion of the corresponding theory module. Clinical experiences are negotiated by Mohawk College with appropriate clinical settings based on the stated objectives of the module, the student's identified needs, availability of clinical sites, and the student's work schedule. Please see the Program of Studies tab for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate knowledge of the critical care team members roles, medical directives, reflective practice, crisis management, burnout ethics, informed consent, DNR, organ donation education patients and families, patient safety principles of adult education, physical assessment, triage, trauma, multi-system failure, burns infection, conflict management, change management, interpersonal relations, palliation, pain and legal issues.
- Demonstrate knowledge of assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care provided to patients with respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological or GI/GU difficulty using enhanced knowledge of pathopsychological processes.
- Demonstrate knowledge of pulmonary anatomy and physiology, pulmonary assessment, pulmonary diagnostic studies, pulmonary injuries, treatments and nursing care, lung cancer and thoracic surgery, emergency airway management, O2 therapy, mechanical ventilation, positive pressure ventilation, invasive mechanical ventilation, nursing care of ventilated patients, weaning extubation and adjunctive therapies.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system, electrophysiology of the heart, ECG analysis including purpose and function, components of ECG complex and significance of abnormal waves, normal sinus rhythm, the various arrhythmias, causes and treatments, familiarity with pacemakers, understanding of hypertensional aortic aneurysm and coronary artery disease, treatments and nursing care, familiarity with ventricular valvular heart disease, cardiac infection, heart failure, cardiogenic shock, cardiac surgery (pre and post op care) and hemodynamic monitoring and cardiac output measurement.
- Demonstrate knowledge of major neuromuscular problems including anatomy and physiology of the brain, types of head injuries, treatments and nursing care, cerebral vascular diseases and classifications, neurological deficits, treatments and nursing care. Understand the A&P of the spine , causes of spinal cord injuries, the importance of neurological assessment including the application of the Glascow Coma scale including assessment of motor and sensory function and appropriate nursing measures.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the GI/GU systems and understanding of fluid and electrolyte balance, abdominal assessment, GI diagnostic procedures, disorders and treatments, hypovolemic shock and treatment, endocrine disorders and treatments, nutrition and metabolism of the critically ill patient, renal A&P and assessment, acute renal failure and treatments, renal dialysis, septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, treatment and nursing care.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the special needs population (pediatric, geriatric, psychiatric and transplant) in the critical care setting. Develop skill in critically appraising research that supports nursing practice.
- Apply knowledge of critical care nursing in the critical care practicum components
Opportunities
Academic Opportunities
Career Opportunities
Specialization in Critical Care Nursing increases the opportunity for employment in critical care areas such as Adult ICUs or Emergency rooms, step down units, and in some instances, post-operative care areas.
The Critical Care Nursing Certificate Program will also prepare the nurse for the CNA Critical Care Nursing Certification Examination.
Additional Information
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
Students who have gained knowledge and skills through the work experience and have documented evidence may utilize the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition process for credit for the clinical courses only. Visit the Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition page for detailed information.