COURSE OUTLINE

SCHOOL OF NURSING
COURSE NAME: Neonatal Intensive Care: Theory
COURSE CODE: NURS 4050
CREDIT HOURS: 75
PREREQUISITES: NURS 4048, NURS 4049, Current Certificate of Competence, College
of Nurses of ON
PLAR ELIGIBLE: YES ( ) NO ( √)
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 2017
PROFESSOR: Heather Urquhart OFFICE #: 702
PHONE: 416.415.5000 ext 2351 EMAIL: hurquhar@georgebrown.ca

NOTE TO STUDENTS: Academic Departments at George Brown College will NOT retain historical copies
of Course Outlines. We urge you to retain this Course Outline for your future reference.

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY

ORIGINATOR:__________________________________________________________________________
SIGNATURE DATE
CHAIR:_________________ __________________________Sept 2017_ _______
SIGNATURE DATE

DATE OF REVISION:__________________________________________________

EQUITY STATEMENT: George Brown College values the talents and contributions of its students, staff and community
partners and seeks to create a welcoming environment where equity, diversity and safety of all groups are fundamental.
Language or activities which are inconsistent with this philosophy violate the College policy on the Prevention of
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accommodations visit the Disability Services Office or the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Office on your campus.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES: Students should obtain a copy of the Continuing Education Course Guide and refer to
it for additional information regarding the grading system, withdrawals, exemptions, class assignments, missed tests and
exams, supplemental privileges, and academic dishonesty. Students are required to apply themselves diligently to the
course of study, and to prepare class and homework assignments as given. Past student performance shows a strong
relationship between regular attendance and success.

COURSE NAME: Neonatal Intensive Care Theory PAGE: 1

COURSE CODE: NURS 4050
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Building onto the knowledge gained in NURS 4048, students examine in depth issues and
problems facing the acutely ill unstable infant and their family. Current research and relevant
theoretical perspectives will continue to provide the foundation of study of family centered care
of the acutely ill unstable infant. Students learn about the nurse’s role in relation to ethical
issues, transcultural diversity, health promotion and disease prevention, and evidence-based
approaches to care. The course is enhanced through the use of a variety of guest lecturers who
are experts in the field of neonatal intensive care.

ESSENTIAL EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS:

As mandated by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities essential employability skills
(EES) will be addressed throughout all programs of study. Students will have the opportunity to learn
(L) specific skills, to practice (P) these skills, and/or be evaluated (E) on the EES outcomes in a
variety of courses. The EES include communication, numeracy, critical thinking & problem solving,
information management, interpersonal and personal skills. The faculty for this course has indicated
which of the EES are either Learned (L), Practiced (P) or Evaluated (E) in this course:

Skill L P E Skill L P E
1. communicate clearly, concisely and 7. locate, select, organize and
correctly in the written, spoken and √ √ √ document information using
visual form that fulfills the purpose appropriate technology and
and meets the needs of the information sources
audience
2. respond to written, spoken or visual √ √ √ 8. show respect for the diverse √ √ √
messages in a manner that ensures opinions, values, belief
effective communication systems, and contributions
of others
3. execute mathematical operations 9. interact with others in groups √ √ √
accurately √ √ √ or teams in ways that
contribute to effective
working relationships and
the achievement of goals
4. apply a systematic approach to 10. manage the use of time and √ √ √
solve problems √ √ √ other resources to complete
projects
5. use a variety of thinking skills to 11. take responsibility for one’s
anticipate and solve problems √ √ √ own actions, decisions and
consequences
6. analyze, evaluate, and apply
relevant information from a variety √ √ √
of sources

COURSE OUTCOMES:

1. Describe the epidemiological basis for selected perinatal issues and neonatal pathologies
2. Describe the physical and developmental assessment of the acutely ill newborn and their
family
3. Apply nursing and professionally related theories to planning and implementing care for
the critically ill newborn and their family
4. Describe the physiology and rational for the management of the critically ill newborn

COURSE NAME: Neonatal Intensive Care Theory PAGE: 2

COURSE CODE: NURS 4050
 5. Apply concepts of health promotion and disease prevention to issues facing the family of
the high risk newborn in the community
6. Develop teaching strategies based on knowledge and understanding of the learning needs
of the parents and critically ill newborns.
7. Analyze and integrate effective communication and interpersonal skills with patients and
their families recognizing and respecting differences in values, attitudes and beliefs.
8. Analyze research findings as they pertain to the management of selected perinatal
problems and issues.
9. Analyze the theories and application of principles of perinatal bereavement and
reproductive loss.
10. Discuss and debate ethical issues related to social, legal, technology, and treatment of the
critically ill newborn.

DELIVERY METHODS / LEARNING ACTIVITIES:

The teaching methods of this course are composed of group discussion, debate, lecture, lab,
tutorial, simulation, case study, guest lecturers and independent study. Students utilize a
comprehensive, independent learning manual. As adult learners, students are expected to
prepare for class by completing required readings and assignments, and actively participate in
class discussions.

LIST OF TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER TEACHING AIDS:

 Gardner, S. (2016) Merenstein & Gardner’s Handbook of Neonatal Intensive Care (8th
ed), Elsevier

 Urquhart, H. (current year) Perinatal Intensive Care Nursing (USB/manual). Toronto,

Canada: George Brown College

 Videos
 Case studies
 Simulation
 Labs
 Guest lectures
 Blackboard Collaborate® online virtual classroom

TESTING POLICY:

 Students who live within a 100km radius of the College will write the exams in person on the scheduled
exam date unless other arrangements have been approved by the program coordinator.
 Students enrolled in the online delivery of the program may be eligible to take the test at their hospital of
employment. This will be organized in advance with permission from the program coordinator.
 Students must notify the program coordinator by phone and/or email if they are ill or unable to take a test at
its scheduled time.
 An overall minimum average of 70% is required to pass the course and be eligible to advance to the
next course in the program.
 Students who do not attain an overall course average of 70% will be eligible to write a supplemental exam
if they have achieved an overall average of 65%. One supplemental exam per program is allowed. If a
grade of 70% or higher is achieved in the supplemental exam, the student will be awarded a passing grade
of 70%.

COURSE NAME: Neonatal Intensive Care Theory PAGE: 3

COURSE CODE: NURS 4050
EVALUATION SYSTEM:

Assessment Tool: Description: Outcome(s) EES Date / % of

assessed: assessed: Week: Final
Grade:
Examination I Multiple choice, short answer, 2 50
case situations, labeling
diagrams, drug, fluid and calorie
calculations, blood gas analysis
Examination II Multiple choice, short answer, 4 50
case situations, drug, fluid and
calorie calculations, blood gas
analysis

TOTAL: 100%

GRADING SYSTEM
The passing grade for this course is: 70%

A+ 90-100 4.0 B+ 77-79 3.3 C+ 67-69 2.3 D+ 57-59 1.3 Below 50 F 0.0
A 86-89 4.0 B 73-76 3.0 C 63-66 2.0 D 50-56 1.0
A- 80-85 3.7 B- 70-72 2.7 C- 60-62 1.7

Excerpt from the College Policy on Academic Dishonesty:

The minimal consequence for submitting a plagiarized, purchased, contracted, or in any manner inappropriately
negotiated or falsified assignment, test, essay, project, or any evaluated material will be a grade of zero on that material.

TOPICAL OUTLINE:
Week Topic / Task Outcome(s) Content / Resources
Activities
1 Family Centered Care Lectures DVDs
Neonatal Transport Discussion Sim Lab
Hyperbililrubinemia Debate Library
Neonatal Infection Case studies
Hypoxic Ischemic Injury Group work Government
Total Parenteral Nutrition in class and
Congenital Gastrointestinal Anomalies Simulation professional
Necrotizing Enterocolitis lab organization
Surgical Newborn and Ostomy Care policies and
Neonatal Pain guidelines
Congenital Respiratory Anomalies
Respiratory Disorders Hospital
Ventilation policies and
procedures

Media
Websites

Expert guest
COURSE NAME: Neonatal Intensive Care Theory PAGE: 4
COURSE CODE: NURS 4050
 speakers

2 Extraneous Air Syndrome As above As above

Extracoporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Chronic Lung Disease/Bronchopulmonary
Dysplasia Also: X-rays
Neonatal Diagnostic Imaging for
Congenital Heart Defects/Cardiovascular interpretation
Disorders lab
Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension

3 Intracranial Hemorrhage As above As above

Seizure Disorders
Congenital Neurological Anomalies
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Renal Disease
Integumentary Disorders
Retinopathy of Prematurity
Haematological Disorders
Perinatal Genetics
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Discharge Planning and Neonatal Follow Up
Care
Self-Care

COURSE NAME: Neonatal Intensive Care Theory PAGE: 5

COURSE CODE: NURS 4050