Cardiac nursing

Cardiac nursing is a nursing specialty that works with patients who suffer from various conditions of the cardiovascular system. Cardiac nurses help treat conditions such as unstable angina, cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction and cardiac dysrhythmia under the direction of a cardiologist.

Cardiac nurses perform postoperative care on a surgical unit, stress test evaluations, cardiac monitoring, vascular monitoring, and health assessments. Cardiac nurses must have Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification. In addition, cardiac nurses must possess specialized skills including electrocardiogram monitoring, defibrillation, and medication administration by continuous intravenous drip.

Cardiac nurses work in many different areas such as, Coronary care units (CCU), Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory (CCL), Intensive Care Units(ICU), Operating theatres, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Research, Cardiac Surgical wards, and Cardiac Medical wards.

Certification for cardiac nurses

All cardiac nurses are registered nurses, yet some may choose to receive certification. The Cardiac/Vascular Nurse certification exam is offered by the [http://www.nursecredentialing.org/ American Nurses Credentialing Center] (ANCC) in collaboration with the Society for Vascular Nursing, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association. In addition to holding a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing, candidates must meet all of the following basic eligibility requirements :
## Hold a currently active RN license within a state or territory of the United States or the professional, legally recognized equivalent in another country
## Have practiced the equivalent of two years full-time as a registered nurse
## Have a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice in cardiac vascular nursing within the last 3 years
## Have completed 30 hours of continuing education in cardiac vascular nursing within the last 3 years

See also

* British Journal of Cardiac Nursing

References

Novotny, J (2003). "101 Careers in Nursing", Springer Publishing Company.

External Links

* [http://www.svnnet.org Society for Vascular Nursing]
* [http://www.aacvpr.org American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation]
* [http://www.pcna.net/ Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association]