Essentials of Critical Care Orientation (ECCO)

Table of Contents

Getting Started

Topic 1: Starting Your Journey
Topic 2: Navigating the Course
Topic 3: Why E-Learning?
Topic 4: Added-Value
Topic 5: Course Content and Contributors
Topic 6: Good Luck!

Introduction to Care of the Critically Ill

Lesson 1 — Introduction to AACN

Topic 1: Synergy Model
Topic 2: Healthy Work Environment
Topic 3: Beacon Award for Unit Excellence

Lesson 2 — Care of Specialty Populations in Critical Care

Topic 1: The Pediatric Patient in the Critical Care Unit
Topic 2: Care of the Critically Ill Geriatric Patient
Topic 3: Care of the Critically Ill Bariatric Patient

Lesson 3 — Organizing Care of the Critically Ill Patient

Topic 1: Assessment Structure
Topic 2: Receiving and Assessing the Newly Admitted Patient
Topic 3: Ongoing Assessments and Reassessments
Topic 4: Collaborative Communication and Family-Centered Care

Lesson 4 — Evidence-Based Practice

Topic 1: Defining Evidence-Based Practice
Topic 2: Deep Vein Thrombosis
Topic 3: Prevention of Catheter-Related Blood Stream Infections
Topic 4: Sleep Pattern Disturbances
Topic 5: Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
Topic 5: Skin Breakdown
Topic 6: Delirium Management

Lesson 5 — Special Procedures in the Critical Care Unit

Topic 1: Moderate Sedation for Procedures
Topic 2: Recovering Patients in the Critical Care Unit

Care of the Patient With Cardiovascular Disorders

Lesson 1 — Cardiovascular Anatomy and Physiology
(Optional Content for the End User)

Topic 1: Structures and Functions
Topic 2: Conduction System
Topic 3: Blood Supply and Systemic Circulation
Topic 4: Electrophysiology and Cardiac Cycle
Topic 5: Cardiac Output, Stroke Volume, Preload, Afterload & Contractility
Topic 6: Autoregulation 

Lesson 2 — Assessing the Cardiovascular System

Topic 1: Cardiovascular Assessment
Topic 2: Auscultation
Topic 3: Arterial Circulation Assessment
Topic 4: Blood Pressure Assessment
Topic 5: Venous System Assessment

Lesson 3 — Management of Acute Coronary Syndromes

Topic 1: Assessment of Chest Pain
Topic 2: ACS Patient Management
Topic 3: ST Elevation MI
Topic 4: Non-ST Elevation MI
Topic 5: Complications
Topic 6: Nursing Considerations
Topic 7: Invasive and Non-invasive Cardiac Procedures

Lesson 4 — Pathologic Conditions

Topic 1: Hypertension
Topic 2: Heart Failure
Topic 3: Cardiomyopathy
Topic 4: Valvular Heart Disease
Topic 5: Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection

Lesson 5 — Cardiac Surgical Interventions

Topic 1: Coronary Artery Bypass
Topic 2: Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass
Topic 3: Surgical Valve Replacement and Repair

Lesson 6 — Cardiac Pacemakers and AICD

Topic 1: Temporary Pacemakers
Topic 2: Permanent Pacemakers
Topic 3: Troubleshooting Pacemaker Malfunctions

Care of the Patient With Pulmonary Disorders

Lesson 1 — Pulmonary Anatomy and Physiology
(Optional Content for the End User)

Topic 1: Structure and Function
Topic 2: Circulatory System
Topic 3: Regulation and Characteristics of Ventilation
Topic 4: Respiration

Lesson 2 — Respiratory Assessment Techniques, Diagnostic Tests and Monitoring Systems

Topic 1: Arterial Blood Gas Monitoring
Topic 2: Arterial Blood Gas Analysis
Topic 3: Assessing Pulmonary Function
Topic 4: Other Diagnostic Tests
Topic 5: Breath Sounds

Lesson 3 — Pathologic Conditions

Topic 1: Pulmonary Hypertension
Topic 2: Acute Respiratory Failure
Topic 3: Diseases Leading to Acute Respiratory Failure
Topic 4: Other Common Pathological Conditions

Lesson 4 — Airway Management

Topic 1: Oxygen Therapy
Topic 2: Noninvasive Pressure Ventilation
Topic 3: Artificial Airways

Lesson 5 — Basic Ventilator Management

Topic 1: Indications, General Principles
Topic 2: Endotracheal Intubation
Topic 3: Modes of Ventilation
Topic 4: Complication of Mechanical Ventilation
Topic 5: Troubleshooting Ventilators
Topic 6: Managing the Ventilated Patient
Topic 7: Weaning from Ventilator Therapy

Lesson 6 — Thoracic Surgical Procedures

Topic 1: Thoracic Surgical Procedures
Topic 2: Insertion and Management of Chest Tubes

Basic Hemodynamic Monitoring

Lesson 1 — Basics of Hemodynamic Monitoring Systems

Topic 1: Basic Components of the Hemodynamic Pressure Monitoring Systems
Topic 2: Obtaining Accurate Hemodynamic Values  

Lesson 2 — Arterial Pressure Monitoring

Topic 1: Catheter Types and Insertion Techniques
Topic 2: Complications or Arterial Monitoring
Topic 3: Waveforms and Clinical Applications
Topic 4: Direct Vs. Indirect Measurement of Arterial Pressure
Topic 5: Obtaining Blood Samples
Topic 6: Arterial Catheter Removal  

Lesson 3 — Central Venous Catheters

Topic 1: Catheter Types
Topic 2: Insertion of Central Catheters — Sites and Techniques
Topic 3: Managing Central Venous Catheters
Topic 4: Waveform Analysis and Clinical Applications
Topic 5: Complications
Topic 6: Water Vs. Pressure Transducer Monitoring 

Lesson 4 — Pulmonary Artery Catheters

Topic 1: Indications for PA Catheter
Topic 2: Catheter Types
Topic 3: Insertion
Topic 4: Managing and Troubleshooting PA Catheters
Topic 5: Waveform Analysis
Topic 6: Complications and Associated Problems
Topic 7: Clinical Applications

Lesson 5 — Cardiac Output Monitoring

Topic 1: Factors Affecting Cardiac Output
Topic 2: Methods of Calculating CO
Topic 3: Clinical Application of CO
Topic 4: Noninvasive CO Monitoring

Lesson 6 — Oxygenation and Transport

Topic 1: Oxygen Supply and Demand
Topic 2: Types of Catheters (SVO2, Scvo2)
Topic 3: Conditions Affecting Oxygen Monitoring
Topic 4: Clinical Applications

Lesson 7 — Pharmacological Management of Hemodynamics

Topic 1: Managing Preload
Topic 2: Managing Afterload
Topic 3: Managing Contractility

Care of the Patient With Neurological Disorders

Lesson 1 — Neurologic System Anatomy and Physiology
(Optional Content for the End User)

Topic 1: Structure and Function of the Central Nervous System
Topic 2: Formation and Circulation of Cerebrospinal Fluid
Topic 3: Cerebrovascular Circulation

Lesson 2 — Special Neurologic Assessment Techniques

Topic 1: Level of Consciousness, Scales, Mental Status
Topic 2: Motor and Sensation Assessment
Topic 3: Cranial Nerve and Brain Stem Function Assessment
Topic 4: Vital Sign Alterations in Neurologic Dysfunction
Topic 5: Death By Neurologic Criteria
Topic 6: Invasive and Noninvasive Diagnostic Tests

Lesson 3 — Neurologic Monitoring

Topic 1: Components of Intracranial Pressure Monitoring
Topic 2: Intracranial Pressure Waveform Analysis
Topic 3: Management of Increased Intracranial Pressure
Topic 4: Other Monitoring (Transcranial Cerebral Oximeter, Jugular Venous Oxygen Saturation, Lumbar Drains)

Lesson 4 — Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke

Topic 1: Etiology, Risk Factors and Pathophysiology of Stroke
Topic 2: Clinical Presentation
Topic 3: Diagnostic Tests
Topic 4: Patient Management

Lesson 5 — Other Pathological Conditions

Topic 1: Seizures
Topic 2: Infections of the Central Nervous System
Topic 3: Neuromuscular Diseases
Topic 4: Traumatic Brain Injuries
Topic 5: Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries
Topic 6: Brain Tumors

Care of the Patient With Gastrointestinal Disorders

Lesson 1 — Gastrointestinal System Anatomy and Physiology
(Optional Content for the End User)

Topic 1: Upper and Lower GI Tract
Topic 2: GI Tract Defenses
Topic 3: Accessory Organs of Digestion

Lesson 2 — Diagnostic Testing

Topic 1: Radiographic Exams
Topic 2: Endoscopic Studies
Topic 3: Laboratory Studies
Topic 4: Miscellaneous Exams

Lesson 3 — Pathologic Conditions

Topic 1: Acute Upper and Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Topic 2: Liver Failure
Topic 3: Hepatitis
Topic 4: Acute Pancreatitis
Topic 5: Bowel Infarction/Obstruction
Topic 6: Abdominal Compartment Syndrome

Lesson 4 — Nutritional Support of Critically Ill Patients

Topic 1: Assessing Nutrition Needs
Topic 2: Managing Delivery Devices
Topic 3: Enteral Feeding
Topic 4: Parenteral Feeding

Care of the Patient With Renal Disorders

Lesson 1 — Renal System Anatomy and Physiology
(Optional Content for the End User)

Topic 1: Macro and Micro Anatomy of the Renal System
Topic 2: Neural-Hormonal Factors Affecting Blood Flow
Topic 3: Physiology of Urine Formation
Topic 4: Functions of the Kidney

Lesson 2 — Assessment Techniques, Diagnostic Tests and Monitoring Systems

Topic 1: Assessing Renal Function

Lesson 3 — Fluid and Electrolyte Disturbances

Topic 1: Fluid Disturbances
Topic 2: Life Threatening Electrolyte Imbalances

Lesson 4 — Renal Disease

Topic 1: Acute Renal Failure
Topic 2: Chronic Renal Failure

Lesson 5 — Renal Replacement therapy

Topic 1: Indications for and Efficacy of Renal Replacement Therapy Modes
Topic 2: General Renal Replacement Therapy Interventions
Topic 3: Peritoneal Dialysis
Topic 4: Hemodialysis
Topic 5: CRRT, SCUF, SLED

Care of the Patient With Endocrine Disorders

Lesson 1 — Endocrine System Anatomy and Physiology
(Optional Content for the End User)

Topic 1: Organs and Hormones Secreted
Topic 2: Hormonal Regulation and Function

Lesson 2 — Endocrine System Assessment

Topic 1: Assessing Pancreatic Function
Topic 2: Assessing Pituitary Gland Function
Topic 3: Assessing Thyroid and Parathyroid Function
Topic 4: Assessing Adrenal Gland Function

Lesson 3 — Pathologic Conditions

Topic 1: Diabetes and Complications
Topic 2: Pituitary Gland Disorders
Topic 3: Thyroid and Parathyroid Disorders
Topic 4: Adrenal Gland Disorders

Lesson 4 — Managing Hyperglycemia in the Critically Ill Patient

Topic 1: Blood Glucose Monitoring
Topic 2: Glycemic Control
Topic 3: Intensive Insulin therapy

Care of the Patient With Hematological Disorders

Lesson 1 — Hematologic and Immunologic System Anatomy and Physiology
(Optional Content for the End User)

Topic 1: Structures, Components and Functions
Topic 2: Coagulation Mechanism and Fibrinolysis
Topic 3: Immunologic Basics

Lesson 2 — Assessment, Diagnostic Tests and Monitoring Systems

Topic 1: Hematology Studies
Topic 2: Coagulation Studies
Topic 3: Immunology Studies

Lesson 3 — Pathologic Conditions

Topic 1: Anemia
Topic 2: Thrombocytopenia
Topic 3: Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
Topic 4: Immunocompromise
Topic 5: Other Coagulopathies

Care of the Patient With Multisystem Disorders

Lesson 1 — Shock

Topic 1: Stages of Shock
Topic 2: Hypovolemic
Topic 3: Cardiogenic
Topic 4: Neurogenic
Topic 5: Anaphylactic
Topic 6: Obstructive

Lesson 2 — Sepsis, SIRS & MODS

Topic 1: Sepsis, SIRS & MODS Pathophysiology & Clinical Presentation
Topic 2: Sepsis, SIRS & MODS Organ Dysfunction
Topic 3: Sepsis, SIRS & MODS Goal-Directed Therapy and Patient Management

Lesson 3 — Overdose

Topic 1: Overdose