Module: Care of the Child with Critical Care Needs

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Care of the Child with Critical Care Needs
Module Code	NUR1066 (ITS: NS4020)
Faculty	Nursing, PsyT & Comm Health	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	10

Description

This module builds on NS281 (Children's Nursing 2) and introduces the student to the nursing care of children with acute and chronic critical care needs. The focus of the module is on complex gastrointestinal, respiratory, liver and musculoskeletal disease examining medical and surgical conditions. Care of the high risk neonate is introduced. There is emphasis on assistive technology in complex and chronic disorders.

Learning Outcomes

1. Analyse the role of the children's nurse in relation to the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of care to children with complex acute and chronic medical and surgical needs in a variety of healthcare settings.
2. With reference to complex chronic illness in childhood discuss the psychosocial and quality of life issues for the child and family.
3. Explore the impact of technology dependence in childhood
4. Identify the information and education needs of children and their families to enable them to manage the effects of complex chronic illness
5. Apply evidence based nursing care to children with chronic complex nursing needs in a variety of healthcare settings.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	30	Related to the learning outcomes of the module.
Group work	30	Problem Based Learning tutorials
Clinical laboratory	10	Demonstrations and clinical skills practical’s, simulated learning using SIMM baby in the clinical skills laboratory.
Independent Study	180	As an enquiry based learning module students will require independent learning time to assimilate information related to ‘triggers’, incorporate new knowledge, critique the literature, and prepare for class presentations on their topic areas.
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	20831	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Joy Conlon	Module Teacher	Colleen O'Neill, Siobhan Macdermott

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Written assignment on a topic related to complex and chronic childhhod disorders	70%	n/a
Presentation	Individual class presentations including by Q and A session	30%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

The nature of disease and pathology
The effect of disease and pathology on the normal functioning of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, liver and musculoskeletal systems will be explored. This will include the physiological, social and psychological aspects of complex chronic childhood illness and disability. Thermoregulation, nutrition and common neonatal disorders such as respiratory distress syndrome and physiological jaundice will be addressed..

Evidence based nursing interventions
Nursing assessment strategies, care planning, care delivery techniques and evaluation of care provided to children and their families with a variety of complex respiratory, gastrointestinal, liver and musculoskeletal conditions will be examined.

Pharmacological interventions
Principles of pharmacological interventions will be explored to include the mechanisms of action in relation to drugs most frequently used in the management of complex respiratory, gastrointestinal, liver and musculoskeletal conditions.

Health education and promotion
Health education and promotion as applied to children with complex respiratory, gastrointestinal, liver and musculoskeletal needs will be explored. The importance of optimising psychosocial wellbeing will be emphasised.

The use of technology in children's nursing
Assistive technology and technology dependence in childhood.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Marilyn J Hockenberry & David Wilson: 2007, Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and Children, 8th edition, Elsevier, 13-978-0-323-03963-5
Imelda Coyne, Fiona Timmins, Freda Neill: 2010, Clinical Skills for Children's Nursing, Oxford Univerisity Press, Oxford, 978-0-19-955903-9
Glenys Boxwell: 2010, Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing, 2nd edition, Routledge, New York, 978-0-415-47755-0
Margaret A. Chambers, Sue Jones: 2007, Surgical nursing of children, Butterworth-Heinemann, Edinburgh, 978-0-7506-4807-3
Theresa KYLE,Susan CARMAN: 2024, Essentials of Pediatric Nursing, 5th, LWW, 0, 1975236149

Articles:
None

Other Resources

1: NMBI, 2025, NMBI-Code-of-Professional-Conduct-and-Ethics., NMBI
419353: 1, NMBI, 2020, NMBI-Medication-Administration-2020,
https://www.nmbi.ie/Publications/Standards-and-Guidance: 419354, 1, NMBI, 2025, Guidelines-on-Ethical-Standards-and-Behaviours-for-Student-Nurses-and-Student-Midwives.pdf
NMBI: https://www.nmbi.ie/Publications/Standards-and-Guidance,