ICU Critical Care! Is this a normal BSN class? Texas?

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2008

Hello all,
I'm seeking information about Texas nursing school programs (or any others, really) who have an entire course in ICU. Our school requires ICU after med surge and this is the class that usually flunks students out of nursing school!
In this class, we are tested on hemodynamic monitoring, all forms of shock to include what the shock is doing to hemodynamics: svr, preload, afterload, PAP, PAWP, etc. We are also tested on 12 lead EKGs, and dysrythmias other than the common ones like; junctional escape, supraventricular tach, etc. The Nursing board states that content requirements should include: Med surge, Peds, OB, and mental health (all of which we also have). Need some input from this great community to let me know if this content is a bit "advanced" or if I'm just not smart enough to grasp this as "basic" nursing elements?

Just need to get a feel for what's out there and determine if this class should not determine graduation.

Many thanks!

I'm in IL, and this theory class covered most/all of the requirements you mention here....it's possibly not quite as advanced...but the concepts remain the same. We had 2 weeks of class over hemodynamic monitoring, a week over shock, 2 weeks over heart stuff, etc...ABG's

It was a tough semester, but I feel that if you study and get to know the basic stuff you should be ok....just go in positive, and that's half the battle.....

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2008

Hello all,
I'm seeking information about Texas nursing school programs (or any others, really) who have an entire course in ICU. Our school requires ICU after med surge and this is the class that usually flunks students out of nursing school!
In this class, we are tested on hemodynamic monitoring, all forms of shock to include what the shock is doing to hemodynamics: svr, preload, afterload, PAP, PAWP, etc. We are also tested on 12 lead EKGs, and dysrythmias other than the common ones like; junctional escape, supraventricular tach, etc. The Nursing board states that content requirements should include: Med surge, Peds, OB, and mental health (all of which we also have). Need some input from this great community to let me know if this content is a bit "advanced" or if I'm just not smart enough to grasp this as "basic" nursing elements?

Just need to get a feel for what's out there and determine if this class should not determine graduation.

Many thanks!

Our entire third semester in my ADN program is "critical care", with clinical rotations to the ICU, ER, and NICU.

I seriously doubt they want you to become experts at critical care but even if you plan to work in med surg you better know what afterload/preload is and other hemodynamics.

Additionally, you should know the importance of 12 lead EKGs and what is being looked for on each of them, and as for "uncommon dysrhythmias" you sure as heck better know what SVT is. This is an incredibly common dysrhythmia anywhere in the hospital and you should be familiar with its implications to your patient and common treatments. You don't have to be ACLS or have the algorhythms memorized, but this stuff like SVT is so basic we covered it in our second semester (was on our last test).

kristin9903 · Apr 20, 2008

I'm in TX and will be done with my BSN in a few weeks (hopefully). We have a class that is exactly what you describe.

We covered a lot of dysrhythmias (not junctional escape, but definitely SVT). We also covered hemodynamic monitoring in a good amount of detail. It's important to know proper interventions and the rationales for that...since if you ever find yourself in a critical care area that info's pretty vital.

The only thing that you talked about that we didn't cover (although I wish we had) was 12 lead EKGs. I think our instructor thought it would be too much, and hospitals will generally pay for you to take the 12 lead class if you're in an area that requires you to be able to interpret them.

MB37 · Apr 20, 2008

I'm in FL, and the class is just called med surg II, but our entire clinical rotation is in ICUs. We are expected to learn everything you mentioned. The NCLEX tests us all on the same material, so most schools cover the same general stuff. We all have to take ICU, Peds, OB, and Psych, regardless of where we actually want to work when we graduate.

student456 · Apr 20, 2008

I wish my NS had something like that! If we get placed in ICU its random according to the spots available...I would love to have a class like that

Sterren, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2008

My program doesn't have that (you do get a clinical rotation in ICU though) but I sure wish they did. It sounds like you are going to learn a ton in that class.

and FWIW, I think all nursing classes determine graduation. If you fail a class, whether it was an easy class or a hard class, you don't get to graduate, right?

futurecnm · Apr 20, 2008

I'm in an AD program and we have a series of lectures (coming up next week) on critical care, ICU, etc (all the stuff you described) and we get tested on it. I'd love a course just on this info, more in depth. You are lucky!!!

tracey350z · Apr 20, 2008

:yeah:Thanks for all the replies. I guess I was not very clear when I described the "common dysrhythmias". The ones I noted were the basics that I would assume everyone would hope to learn.

We do have Med surge I & II in addition to Critical care. Just curious where the ADN student attends that had an entire ICU course?

Thanks again.

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2008

:yeah:Thanks for all the replies. I guess I was not very clear when I described the "common dysrhythmias". The ones I noted were the basics that I would assume everyone would hope to learn.
We do have Med surge I & II in addition to Critical care. Just curious where the ADN student attends that had an entire ICU course?
Thanks again.

I'm the ADN student that misread your line regarding common dysrhythmias. I've been a monitor tech for years, so it's a bit of a sore spot dealing with nurses that don't know their rhythms.

I'm also the one with a "full semester" of critical care.

This isn't entirely accurate: We're one of the few integrated (versus block) curriculum programs out there, so we touch on each and every system the first three semesters, going into more detail and more complexity each time. The third semester we cover the "extremely sick" angle from each system and this is when we get into all the critical care interventions that address each system. We typically have two systems a test, and 7-8 tests, with about 8 hours of lecture per test. The fourth semester is more focused on getting us graduated, however, we do cover other topics like public health, and organize a health fair.

tracey350z · Apr 20, 2008

Our entire third semester in my ADN program is "critical care", with clinical rotations to the ICU, ER, and NICU.
I seriously doubt they want you to become experts at critical care but even if you plan to work in med surg you better know what afterload/preload is and other hemodynamics.
Additionally, you should know the importance of 12 lead EKGs and what is being looked for on each of them, and as for "uncommon dysrhythmias" you sure as heck better know what SVT is. This is an incredibly common dysrhythmia anywhere in the hospital and you should be familiar with its implications to your patient and common treatments. You don't have to be ACLS or have the algorhythms memorized, but this stuff like SVT is so basic we covered it in our second semester (was on our last test).

I saw your post on the cath lab question; with your background in telemetry, I can certainly see how my question might have seemed elementry. I might not have presented my information accurately. In regards to hyper & hypo dynamic stages of shock, naturally pre and afterload is quite basic but is it "basic" NS content to apply with a high degree of understanding how these factors effect SVR, RAP, PAP, PAWP etc.

In regards to 12 leads...of course it's important. Was just curious how many people were given an actual 12 lead print out on a test and were required to interpret it? My research shows this to be an advanced EKG course usually offered for nurses through their employers.

Thanks for your reply:up:

tracey350z · Apr 20, 2008

I'm the ADN student that misread your line regarding common dysrhythmias. I've been a monitor tech for years, so it's a bit of a sore spot dealing with nurses that don't know their rhythms.
I'm also the one with a "full semester" of critical care.
This isn't entirely accurate: We're one of the few integrated (versus block) curriculum programs out there, so we touch on each and every system the first three semesters, going into more detail and more complexity each time. The third semester we cover the "extremely sick" angle from each system and this is when we get into all the critical care interventions that address each system. We typically have two systems a test, and 7-8 tests, with about 8 hours of lecture per test. The fourth semester is more focused on getting us graduated, however, we do cover other topics like public health, and organize a health fair.

Ahh! we must both be typing away. I totally understand where you're coming from with the "lack of knowledge" about rhythms on the units. I've watched a pt going into Vtach and the RN getting frustrated that the monitor was in malfunction....won't get into that, but quite frustrating!

Thanks for the updated message. Would love to pick your brains some more!