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Barbara Davies is an excellent, awesome presenter whose passion for the work shows through in what she does. She knows how to engage the participants during the lecture sessions. For the practicals, she knows how to settle examinee’s nerves with her steady and calm demeanour. She is very kind, caring and imparts confidence. Her explanations are easy to understand and her handouts are very useful for study and revision. I’d highly recommend colleagues to attend Barbara’s very informative sessions, she seems to go the extra mile to help participants improve their knowledge and skills with her high level of teaching and practical know how.

Evelyn – Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Melbourne

Care of the Deteriorating Patient

About this Course

Download a brochure and registration form here.

This innovative course has been designed to assist clinicians achieve the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care NSQHS Standard 9 – Recognising and Responding to Clinical Deterioration.

Participants will be provided with essential skills relating to the assessment and management of patients who are experiencing clinical deterioration or have the potential to do so.

For each area of clinical deterioration, the session will commence with a review of the essential physiology and then relate that to the pathophysiological changes which lead to the development of altered signs & symptoms.

Following this review, specific clinical management strategies based on a problem solving case history approach will be developed with the aim of stabilising the patient and preventing or reversing their clinical deterioration.

As the emphasis in this two day course is on the physiological deterioration, the course is applicable to all patients in acute care situations and to all acute healthcare facilities and clinical practice.

This course is specifically designed to facilitate the application of a problem solving approach to the assessment and management of a wide variety of patient conditions. In doing so, the aim is to improve patient safety and outcomes.

This course will emphasise not just the observation of the patient but also the interpretation of those observations and options for escalating response to further prevent or reverse the clinical deterioration of the patient.

With Critical Care Education Services you can book early with confidence. We have never cancelled a course, and many of our programs sell out regularly. Register now to secure your place.

Nursing attending this program earn 12 CPD Hours towards their ongoing education.


  • Course Dates

    • Brisbane – 16 & 17 March 2018
    • Adelaide – 23 & 24 March 2018
    • Melbourne – 21 & 22 June 2018
    • Townsville – 17 & 18 July 2018
    • Sydney – 21 & 22 September 2018

  • Course Program

    Day One

    TimeSubject/Activity
    0815 - 0845Registration, coffee & tea
    0900 - 0915Welcome, Introduction, Setting the Scene, The Scope of the Problem.
    0915 - 1000Essential Respiratory Physiology: O2 delivery & metabolism, physiology of O2 saturation. CO2 production & elimination. Regulation of Respiration.
    1000 - 1030Morning Tea, Networking
    1030 - 1230The Patient with Respiratory Problems. The Breathless Patient: Assessment of Respiration – The Forgotten Vital Sign – rate, depth & work of breathing. The Use & Abuse of a Pulse Oximeter. Dyspnoea, Hypoxaemia & Hypercarbia.
    1230 - 1330Lunch, Networking
    1330 - 1500Cardiovascular Assessment: Determinants of BP; Regulation of Cardiac Output & BP; Manual & Non-invasive Blood Pressure Measurement.
    1500 - 1515Afternoon Tea
    1515 - 1615Assessment & Management of the Patient with Cardiovascular Problems: hypotension, arrhythmias, shock states.

    Day Two

    TimeSubject/Activity
    0900 - 1000The Patient with Neurological Alteration: Fits, Faints & Funny Turns. Syncope. Confusion, Delirium. Neurological Assessment – Getting it Right.
    1000 - 1030Morning Tea
    1030 - 1130The Patient with an Infective or Inflammatory process. Signs of sepsis. Allergic reactions.
    1130 - 1300The Patient with Alterations in Fluid, Electrolyte or Glucose levels – Hypoglycaemia. Causes of renal insufficiency/failure.
    1300 - 1345Lunch, Networking
    1345 - 1415Pain Assessment – The Fifth Vital Sign.
    1415 - 1515Communication & Documentation: Skills & strategies to enhance communication within the team, provide a structured handover, & escalate response to clinical deterioration. Observation Charts & Early warning systems.
    1515 - 1530Afternoon Tea
    1530 - 1630Scenarios – putting it all together: Case Studies & Problem Solving Exercises.

  • Course Fees

    Fee for attendance at the 2 day Care of the Deteriorating Patient Course is $495.

    Single day registrations are also accepted for $340.

    **A 10% group discount is available when registering 4 or more participants
    in a single transaction

    Registration includes lecture outlines with reference lists, lunch, refreshments, and a certificate of attendance.

    A receipt and confirmation of registration will be returned by your preferred contact method following registration and payment.

    Please note that a $55 cancellation fee applies. No refund will be given if cancellation occurs within one week of the course.

  • Venue Information

    Brisbane: Hotel Grand Chancellor

    Adelaide: Hotel Grand Chancellor on Hindley

    Melbourne: St Vincent’s Hospital

    Townsville: Mercure Hotel

    Sydney: Mantra Parramatta

For More Information

For more information regarding this course and any dates upon which it is scheduled, or to enquire about hosting this course at your organisation, please submit our online enquiry form.