Nursing Fellowship
Nursing Fellowship - Critical Care
A comprehensive 12-month critical care nursing fellowship for ICU and HDU nurses. Covers ventilator care, invasive monitoring, haemodynamic assessment, drug infusions, procedural assistance and family-centred care in the critical care environment.
- typical duration
- 12 months
- estimated weekly study
- 5-7 hrs
- level
- Advanced
- format
- Self-paced
Programme overview
A comprehensive 12-month critical care nursing fellowship for ICU and HDU nurses. Covers ventilator care, invasive monitoring, haemodynamic assessment, drug infusions, procedural assistance and family-centred care in the critical care environment.
Across roughly 12 months, the curriculum works through 10 core areas: ICU Environment & Organisation, Ventilator Care & Airway Management, Haemodynamic Monitoring, Renal Replacement Therapy Nursing, Vasoactive Drug Infusions, Neurological Assessment in ICU, Nutritional Support in ICU, Infection Prevention in ICU, Family Communication & Support and End-of-Life Care in ICU. Each area combines clinician-written notes, worked examples and self-assessment so you build understanding rather than memorise in isolation.
This is a structured, self-paced learning programme rather than an accredited qualification. It is designed to consolidate knowledge and support continuing professional development; the accreditation status is pending and it does not by itself confer a licence, registration or a university degree.
Who this is for
Who this is for: RN with 1+ year acute care experience. ICU rotation preferred. It suits clinicians who want a coherent, exam-aware framework rather than scattered resources, and who prefer to study around clinical shifts.
Level: Advanced. Expected commitment: around 5-7 hours per week over 12 months, studied entirely online at your own pace with no fixed live sessions.
Where the knowledge transfers: the content overlaps with preparation for ISCCN Certification, INC Specialist Practice and Critical Care Nursing Cert. The programme is not an exam-registration route, but the concepts and clinical reasoning it builds are directly relevant to these assessments and to day-to-day practice.
Curriculum and competencies
Core areas covered
- ICU Environment & Organisation
- Ventilator Care & Airway Management
- Haemodynamic Monitoring
- Renal Replacement Therapy Nursing
- Vasoactive Drug Infusions
- Neurological Assessment in ICU
- Nutritional Support in ICU
- Infection Prevention in ICU
- Family Communication & Support
- End-of-Life Care in ICU
Learning outcomes
By completion you should be able to
- Deliver safe, evidence-based ventilator care including circuit management, suction and weaning support
- Monitor and interpret haemodynamic data from arterial lines, CVP and cardiac output monitoring
- Safely manage vasoactive drug infusions including noradrenaline, vasopressin and inotropic agents
- Support patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy with accurate fluid balance management
- Assess neurological status using validated ICU tools including GCS, RASS and CAM-ICU
- Communicate with families in the ICU environment using structured compassionate frameworks
Programme schedule
Month 1-3: ICU Foundations & Respiratory Care
- ICU Environment, Organisation & Safety
- Ventilator Care & Circuit Management
- Airway Management for Nurses
- Respiratory Assessment & Weaning Support
Month 4-6: Haemodynamics & Drug Infusions
- Haemodynamic Monitoring & Interpretation
- Vasoactive Drug Infusions - Safety & Titration
- Cardiac Assessment in ICU
- Fluid Balance & Volume Status Assessment
Month 7-9: Organ Support & Specialty Nursing
- Renal Replacement Therapy Nursing
- Neurological Assessment & ICP Monitoring
- Nutritional Support & NG Feeding in ICU
- Infection Prevention & Bundle Care
Month 10-12: Family Care, Ethics & Portfolio
- Family Communication & Support in ICU
- End-of-Life Care & Bereavement Support
- Critical Care Ethics & DNACPR
- Portfolio Completion & ISCCN Certification Preparation
How it is delivered and assessed
Every module is delivered self-paced inside the MedNext platform. You move through clinician-written notes, then reinforce each concept with flashcards, mnemonics and focused MCQs drawn from the wider MedNext question bank. There are no fixed deadlines, so you can complete the programme faster or slower than the indicative duration.
Assessment is formative and built for retention rather than gatekeeping: end-of-module self-assessment checks, progress tracking that surfaces knowledge gaps, and spaced review prompts that bring weak areas back at the right time. A reflective portfolio prompt at the end helps you record what you have covered for your own CPD log.
Frequently asked questions
Is this an accredited fellowship or a degree?
No. It is a structured, self-paced learning programme in the CPD style. Accreditation is pending and completion does not by itself grant a licence, registration or university award. It is intended to consolidate knowledge and support your professional development.
Who can enrol?
RN with 1+ year acute care experience. ICU rotation preferred. The programme is designed to be studied around clinical work.
How long does it take and how much study is involved?
The indicative duration is 12 months, at an estimated 5-7 hours of study per week. Because it is self-paced with no fixed sessions, you can adjust this to your own schedule.
Will it help with my exams?
The content overlaps with ISCCN Certification, INC Specialist Practice and Critical Care Nursing Cert. It is not an exam-registration pathway, but the notes, reasoning frameworks and practice questions build knowledge that is directly relevant to these assessments.
How is it delivered and assessed?
Entirely online and self-paced within the MedNext platform, using clinician-written notes, flashcards, mnemonics and MCQs. Assessment is formative: end-of-module self-checks and progress tracking rather than a formal graded examination.
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