Advanced Studies in Critical Care Nursing

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If you are a registered nurse interested in working in critical care, emergency or neuroscience nursing, Mount Royal University’s distance certificate program in Advanced Studies in Critical Care Nursing (ACCN) offers you an unbeatable combination of self-paced theoretical coursework and superb clinical placements.

Specialty streams

This program has three streams of study — critical care nursing, emergency nursing and neuroscience nursing.

• Critical care and Emergency nursing have two levels of study. You will receive a certificate after you successfully complete Level I (four theory courses and a clinical practicum) in all streams. Nurses with clinical experience in these areas are encouraged to challenge the clinical practicum in Level I. Completion of Level II (two theory courses and a clinical practicum) provides a focused study in advanced specialty practice and you earn a Certificate of Achievement.
• Neuroscience nursing is designed for nurses interested in this specialization. This stream incorporates the following courses:
  • Critical Care Nursing: Physiology
  • Pharmacology for the Acutely Ill
  • Critical Care and Emergency Nursing: Assessment
  • Neuroscience Nursing Theory
  • Neuroscience Nursing Clinical

Experiential learning

The clinical practicum is preceptored in critical care units, emergency departments or neuroscience areas. Faculty will guide your practicum based on your personal learning needs, skill development and program objectives. All clinical agencies are selected based on their ability to aid in meeting the clinical objectives of the ACCN program.

Added value

Advanced Critical Care Nursing courses are transferable to other universities. In addition, your certificate courses can serve as nursing practice hours for renewal of College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) registration. If you have your Canadian Nurses’ Association (CNA) Certification in critical care, emergency nursing or neuroscience you can obtain credit for one of the theory courses.