Build the knowledge, language, and confidence to succeed in the ICU.
This fully online, self-paced academic course is designed for nurses and healthcare professionals who want to understand the foundations of critical care — whether preparing for hospital onboarding, pursuing a departmental transfer, or expanding their career opportunities.
The course focuses on non-clinical, didactic learning, offering essential critical care knowledge, real-world ICU terminology, and evidence-based guidelines used in high-acuity patient care.
Rated 4.7 out of 5 based on
221 Google reviews
“The structure, flexibility, and ICU insight made this course a game-changer for me.”
This course is ideal for anyone looking to build confidence and clinical knowledge before entering a critical care environment. No ICU experience or clinical access is required.
The Critical Care Nursing Preparatory Course is designed to simplify the process of learning the essential concepts and clinical thinking skills needed to enter the ICU with confidence.
This non-clinical, knowledge-based course helps nurses build a strong foundation in the language, logic, and expectations of modern critical care — without requiring prior ICU experience or hands-on training.
Through recorded lectures, instructor support, and open-access assignments, students gain a deep understanding of:
100% Self-Paced, Flexible Learning — Designed for Working Nurses
Take control of your career on your schedule. The Critical Care Nursing Preparatory Course is offered exclusively in a fully self-paced online format — ideal for working nurses, recent graduates, and international students balancing life, shifts, or transition periods.
“Learn on your schedule with our flexible 12-week online access — perfect for working nurses. Gain ICU knowledge at your own pace with recorded lectures, guided materials, and instructor support whenever you need it.”
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the core concepts, language, and clinical logic of critical care nursing. You'll gain the didactic knowledge needed to confidently step into ICU training programs and high-acuity roles.
| Category | Topics |
|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Critical Care Nursing | What is Critical Care Nursing Synergy model Care of Critically ill patients |
| Nursing respiratory Critical Care | Care of respiratory failure, assessment and use of monitoring, knowledge of holistic care of patients with artificial airways. Blood gas, components of oxygenation and ventilation, venous oxygenation, respiratory support mechanical ventilation, ventilator-associated pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, various modes of mechanical ventilation. |
| Management of Pain, Agitation, Adult Patients in Intensive Care | Assessment and management of pain in critical illness, Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Pain, Agitation/Sedation, Delirium Patient-focused, sedative , pain medication infusion selection, monitoring and the use of nonpharmacologic interventions. |
| Essentials of cardiac Critical Care Nursing | Cardiac and circulatory assessment, focus hemodynamic monitoring and nursing care. Cardiac and circulatory assessment, tissue perfusion monitoring: detecting and nursing management organ hypoperfusion states Sepsis, Shock, blood lactate measurements, modes of cardiovascular monitoring: noninvasive or invasive cardiac output measurements; Nurse management of vasoactive medications, review of vasoactive medications, effects, and monitoring. |
| Neuro assessment and Care of Complex Intracranial Injury | Fundamentals of neurological assessment and critical care nursing care for complex intracranial injury. Nursing assessment, planning and management of intracranial dysfunction, TBI Traumatic Brain Injury, Cerebral vascular disorder, Neurological monitoring, assessment, and care Intracranial Pressure Monitoring |
| Essentials of Critical Care Nursing Glucose Metabolism | Assessment and Nursing management of Metabolic alterations in the critically ill. Metabolic syndrome, Knowledge of stress-induced hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, glucose complications in the critical care setting. Review of glucose monitoring, and insulin infusion review, side effects, management fluid, and electrolyte balance. |
| Nursing care of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome | Assessment and nursing management of alcohol withdrawal. Knowledge of neurotransmitter alterations associated with chronic alcohol use. Medication management pharmacologic review, effects, safety consideration respiratory with benzodiazepine agents in the use for alcohol withdrawal treatment. |
| End Of Life Care in Critical Care Nursing | Knowledge fundamentals end of life care for critical care patients and their families. Comfort care pharmacological, non-pharmacological interventions, Identification of resource and planning focus on management of patient family centered care, decision-making, emotional, spiritual support, and communication. |
Although this is a non-clinical, academic course, it is designed to help you develop practical, job-ready knowledge that mirrors the day-to-day thinking of ICU nurses.
Understand the nursing responsibilities in maintaining central lines, including infection prevention, dressing changes, and line flushing protocols.
Gain awareness of interventions like ICP monitoring and EVD management, and the nurse’s role in neurological assessments.
Develop skills to interpret respiratory status, support airway management, and collaborate on oxygenation and ventilation strategies.
Learn a systematic approach to assess critically ill patients using focused neuro, cardiac, and pulmonary evaluation tools.
Familiarize yourself with central venous pressure (CVP) and arterial line monitoring to support perfusion-focused care.
Familiarize yourself with central venous pressure (CVP) and arterial line monitoring to support perfusion-focused care.
Build confidence in working alongside respiratory therapists to manage intubated patients and identify common ventilator settings and alarms.
This fully self-paced course gives you the flexibility to learn whenever and however it works for you — no weekly deadlines, no live sessions, and no pressure.
Whether you're studying between shifts or on the weekend, this course fits your life while building your ICU knowledge and confidence.
Students who complete this preparatory course will be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to take the next step in their critical care nursing journey — whether in the U.S. or internationally.
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
This course is open to anyone seeking to build a strong academic foundation in critical care nursing. No prior ICU experience is required.
Ideal for:
No nursing license or hands-on clinical experience is required to enroll. This course is fully academic and designed to prepare you with job-ready ICU knowledge — no prerequisites needed.
| Format | Cost |
|---|---|
| Self-Paced 12-Week Program | $200 |
START LEARNING ONLINE TODAY WITH OUR PROGRAM
