Abstract
M.Cur.
From out the researchers experience of the critical care nursing practice, a
need for clinical learning outcomes was identified. There are no listed
guidelines or outcomes of what the critical care learner should be able to do
at the end of the program, to function as a competent critical care-nursing
practitioner.
From the above mentioned problemstatement the following question were
asked namely:
Which knowledge's, skills, attitudes and values do the critical care learner
need to function as a compatend critical care nursing practitioner?
The main aim of this study was to compile a manual with clinical learning
outcomes for the following disciplines within the critical care practice
+ Cardiology and cardio-thorasic surgery
+ General surgery and Pulmonary
+ Neuro-surgery and trauma
From out the constructivistic learning approach a contextual, qualitative and
describing study was done.The first objective namely the formulation of
clinical learning outcomes from out the literature was done by means of a
extensive literature survey.
The second and third objective of the study namely the formulation of
clinical learning outcomes for the different disciplines within the critical
care practices. And compiling a manual for the preceptor in the critical care
practice was done simultaneously.
The clinical learning outcomes was written directly into the format of a
manual. Eighty questioners was handed out to critical care trained
registered nurses. The data gathered from out the questioners was used in
identifying learning outcomes.
There are generic clinical learning outcomes, these outcomes are universal
for al the disciplines within the critical care practice.
Specific clinical learning outcomes where identified for
• Coronary and thoracic surgery
• Neuro-surgery and
• Trauma
Specific learning outcomes are outcomes that are only applicable within that
specific discipline. If effective clinical guidance are facilitated by means of
the clinical learning outcomes and the learner has reached al the outcomes,
he/she should be able to function as a competend critical nursing
practitioner.