• University of Glasgow

Introduction to Critical Care Medicine

Learn how to handle complex issues faced in Critical Care Units when other options on the ward have been exhausted.

14,175 enrolled on this course

A patient in a hospital bed, connected to various machines
  • Duration

    3 weeks
  • Weekly study

    4 hours

Learn how to manage common presentations seen in Critical Care Units

Critical care is an emerging specialty in hospitals and, with an increasing population living with multiple co-morbidites, the burden on Critical Care Units is rising. In this course, find out about the common presentations seen in a Critical Care Unit and how to manage them effectively.

Learn how to handle pneumonia, how to manage multi-organ failure in trauma, how to recognise and manage sepsis early and how to prioritise the management of a trauma patient who needs resuscitation.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 10 seconds MICHELLE CLARKSON: Dealing With critically ill patients is understandably a daunting task. They are often some of the sickest patients in the hospital and experience of dealing with such cases during undergraduate education can be limited. The critical care unit is where patients come when they’ve reached the limit of treatment that can be provided on a ward. Extraordinary treatments such as invasive ventilation and [INAUDIBLE] to support respiratory and cardiovascular failure are commonly used. And patients here in the UK are nursed on a one to one basis. So being as well-prepared as possible to work in this environment is essential. Hello. I’m Michelle, a clinical teaching fellow in critical care at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

Skip to 0 minutes and 51 seconds We’ve developed a unique course to explain what we mean by critical illness and critical care. Through videos, polls, and quizzes, you’ll look at case studies from our own unit and learn from them. You’ll follow patients with conditions that would commonly present to the critical care unit and hopefully develop confidence in working critical care units such as high dependency and intensive care. This course will set you apart from your colleagues, providing you with extra knowledge of managing critically ill patients. The time spent completing this course can also be used as evidence for continued professional development. So join us now on this introductory journey to critical care.

What topics will you cover?

  • Pneumonia
  • Management of multi-organ failure in trauma
  • Early recognition and management of sepsis

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Describe the meaning of Critical Care Unit and how support is different to that provided in the ward
  • Discuss which patients should be managed in Critical Care
  • Summarise the management of respiratory failure in critically ill patients in the High Dependency Unit and Intensive Care Unit
  • Debate appropriate triage of multiple patients involved in trauma
  • Discuss the management of polytrauma patients including the management of major haemorrhage
  • Summarise the initial management of a patient with sepsis

Who is the course for?

The course is aimed at medical students, medical trainees, consultants and other health professionals with an interest in critical care. Learners need no prior experience or qualifications.

Who will you learn with?

I am a consultant in Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow. I lead Critical Care Research and am Principal Investigator on several clinical trials.

Hello,

My name is Michelle and I'm the Clinical Teaching Fellow in Critical Care at the Queen Elizabeth University in Glasgow. I intend to pursue a career in Anaesthetics in the future.

Consultant in Anaesthesia & Critical Care at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. Interests are in Training & Education. Co-Programme Director for the MSc Critical Care at University of Glasgow

Who developed the course?

The University of Glasgow

Founded in 1451, the University of Glasgow is the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world. It is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of leading UK research universities.

  • Established

    1451
  • Location

    Glasgow, Scotland, UK
  • World ranking

    Top 70Source: QS World University Rankings 2020

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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