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NMHS33990

Academic Year 2026/2027

Fundamentals of Acute Care CPD (NMHS33990)

Subject:
Nursing,Midwifery & Health Sys
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Nursing,Midwifery & Health Sys
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Ms Kate O'Donovan
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Students must be employed in an Intensive Care, Coronary Care, or Emergency Department clinical setting to undertake this module. The module aims to facilitate students' understanding of the fundamental principles of acute care nursing specific to their area of clinical practice.

AI Use Permitted for Limited Support
Students may use AI tools for limited support in this module (e.g. idea generation,practice questions, or as a study aid). However, students remain fully responsible for the accuracy and reliability of their learning. Any use of AI must be cited
appropriately.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Indicative Learning Outcomes: on completion of this module, the student will be able to:
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Build on foundational knowledge of applied clinical physiology.
2. Be able to differentiate between normal, variations of normal, and abnormal patient assessment findings and recognise alterations of physiology and pathophysiology pertinent to the persons for which they provide care.
3. Demonstrate comprehensive, evidence-based, theoretical knowledge of the fundamental principles that underpin the nursing management of a person for whom they provide care.
4. Demonstrate the ability to synthesise best practice guidelines that underpin the nursing care of the persons for whom they provide care.
5. Critically discuss validated evidence-based assessment tools and interventions related to the student's specific clinical setting.

Indicative Module Content:

ICU/ED/CCU:
Critical thinking level 9
Clinical decision-making
Haemodynamic monitoring
ABG analysis
Fluid and electrolyte balance
Anatomy and physiology of the heart
Basic Rhythm interpretation
Chest pain
Introduction to arrhythmias

ED/CCU:
Ischaemia, injury, necrosis on the ECG
Overview of acute coronary syndromes

ICU/CCU:
Cardiac and respiratory assessment
Overview of heart failure










The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

30

Autonomous Student Learning

174

Lectures

16

Online Learning

20

Total

240


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures & Tutorials , Online Learning, Specified Learning Activities, Practical Skills Labs, Autonomous student learning.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Foundation InCare Nursing SVUH (NMHS31810), Foundation InCare Nursing MMUH (NMHS31820), CPD CardiovascularNursing MMUH (NMHS31850), Foundations Crit Care Nursing (NMHS32700)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Exam (Online): MCQ online worth 80% Week 12 Graded No
60
Yes
Participation in Learning Activities: Peer Assessment Week 5 Graded No
40
Yes

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Dr Aoife Claire MacCormac Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Wayne Thompson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Katie Wedgeworth Lecturer / Co-Lecturer