AACN offers online educational support for cardiac nurses

Nurses caring for acutely or critically ill cardiovascular patients can take heart: The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) offers online educational support for cardiac nurses interested in deepening their expertise and acquiring subspecialty certification.

AACN's recently updated cardiac medicine (CMC) and cardiac surgery (CSC) review courses are designed to help direct-care cardiac nurses achieve subspecialty certification by reaffirming clinical knowledge and boosting their test-taking confidence.

Developed by cardiac nursing experts in collaboration with AACN clinical practice specialists, these interactive programs fully align with the latest subspecialty certification test plans (adopted in 2012), providing in-depth content review with ample knowledge checks throughout. Both are available for on-demand viewing via AACN's website and in CD-ROM format.

The CMC course covers assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients with cardiovascular problems, who often are found in units such as CCU, medical ICU, telemetry, progressive care, interventional cardiology and/or cardiac catheterization labs. The course is presented by Leanna Miller, RN, MN, CCRN, PCCN, CPNP, CEN, and offers 11.0 contact hours of CNE.

The CSC review addresses care and treatment of patients in the first 48 hours following surgery for coronary artery revascularization, cardiac valve repair/replacement and/or thoracic aorta repair, who generally are cared for in cardiovascular surgery, cardiothoracic surgery or postanesthesia care units. Presented by Myra Ellis, RN, MSN, CCRN-CSC, the course offers 12.4 contact hours of CNE.

Additional cardiac nursing resources available from AACN include exam practice questions, textbooks, clinical resource manuals and pocket reference cards.