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NMHS44230

Academic Year 2026/2027

Fundamentals of Acute Care (NMHS44230)

Subject:
Nursing,Midwifery & Health Sys
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Nursing,Midwifery & Health Sys
Level:
4 (Masters)
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. Integrate and apply foundational concepts of clinical physiology to interpret patient presentations and make informed, evidence‑based clinical decisions
2. Summarise validated evidence-based assessment tools and interventions related to the student's specific clinical setting.
3. Differentiate between normal, variations of normal, and abnormal patient assessment findings.
4. Analyse and apply evidence‑based theoretical principles to inform and justify nursing management decisions for the person in their care.
5. Implement knowledge of physiological and pathophysiological changes to evaluate patient presentations and support evidence‑based clinical decisions.
6. Synthesise best practice guidelines that underpin the nursing care of the persons for whom they provide care.

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







UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Competent

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Competent

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Not addressed

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Competent

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Competent

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Competent

Digital Literacy and Judgement

 The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Competent

AI Literacy & Agency

 The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Advanced Beginner

Wellbeing

 Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Competent

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.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages 1

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 1
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

30
Autonomous Student Learning

174
Lectures

16
Practical

10
Online Learning

20
Total

250

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

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Prior Learning:
Registration with NMBI as a Registered General Nurse (RGN)
Minimum of one year’s experience in clinical practice
Must work a minimum of 75 hours per month in a critical care - intensive care/emergency/coronary care nursing setting prior to commencing and for the duration of the programme.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Exam (Online): This is an online MCQ worth 60% End of trimester
Duration:
1 hr(s)
 Graded No
60
 Yes
Group Work Assignment: Peer assessment worth 40% 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.

reading list is located on Brightspace in each speciality programme unit

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

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Online Learning Offering 1 Week(s) - 3 Tues 09:00 - 12:50
Autumn Laboratory Offering 1 Week(s) - 9 Wed 08:30 - 12:50
Autumn Laboratory Offering 1 Week(s) - 3 Wed 09:00 - 15:30
Autumn Laboratory Offering 1 Week(s) - 6 Wed 09:00 - 16:50
Autumn Laboratory Offering 1 Week(s) - 7 Wed 09:30 - 15:00
Autumn Laboratory Offering 1 Week(s) - 1 Wed 09:00 - 13:20
Autumn Laboratory Offering 1 Week(s) - 6 Wed 09:00 - 16:50
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