PARA8007 Acute Assessment and Management of Altered Conscious States

2017

4.5

1 x 2-hour seminar weekly
1 x 2-day intensive workshop per semester
1 x 7-hour independent study weekly
1 x 50-minute on-line exercises weekly

1 Admission into GDPICP-Graduate Diploma in Intensive Care Paramedic Studies
2 3 of PARA8001, PARA8002, PARA8003
Must Satisfy: (1 and 2)

Students should have a sound underpinning knowledge of paramedic practice.

Weekly on-line discussions/activities/participation; Practical work; Intensive attendance and participation; Assignments.

Critical to the appropriate management of the critically ill patient is the ability of the Intensive Care Paramedic to recognise the clinical presentation and physiological consequences of clinical situations that can cause or result in an alteration to the level of consciousness. Based on contemporary clinical understanding and best practice, this subject will cover the physiology associated with consciousness, assessment of consciousness, factors that can influence the level of consciousness, pathophysiological conditions that can result in an altered conscious state and the clinical management strategies related to these conditions. This underpinning knowledge is critical to enable appropriate clinical decision making and management when dealing with often complex and interacting pathologies that can result in an alteration to the conscious state.

This topic aims to develop a high level of understanding of the physiological maintenance of consciousness and the various factors that can result in an alteration to consciousness as related to ICP practice which forms the foundation on which sound clinical judgement and practice are to be based.

On completion of this topic, students will be expected to be able to:

• Explain the physiological and psychological mechanisms responsible for the normal conscious state.

• Identify and describe the common causes of alteration to the normal conscious state as relevant to ICP practice.

• Identify and describe the influence of pharmacological agents and co-morbidities on conscious state as relevant to ICP practice.

• Identify and describe variations to the physiological and psychological mechanisms that are responsible for conscious state that occur across the life span.

• Demonstrate the appropriate application of ICP clinical procedures and equipment to assess and manage a patient who has an altered conscious state.

• Describe the pharmacology of medications used in ICP clinical practice to manage a patient who has an altered conscious state.

• Describe and demonstrate the appropriate clinical assessment and management of a patient who has an altered conscious state including the management of any underlying pathological cause.

• Demonstrate the ability to form and revise clinical judgements and practice plans when presented with new evidence or information as relevant to ICP practice.