Cyndi Zarbano – 2-Day Crash Course in Cardiac Nursing

Outline

DAY 1

Cardiovascular Assessment: Critical Clues You Should NEVER Miss

• Impending Doom: Recognizing the Red Flags
• Neck Vein Evaluation
• What Does the Blood Pressure Really Mean?
• Don’t Miss a Beat Interpreting Heart Sounds
• Significant Murmurs
• Rapid Stabilizing Interventions

Life-Threatening EKG Changes: Clues From the 12-Lead

• Location, Location, Location! Anatomy of the 12-Lead
• 3 Rules of Recognition
• Cardiac Axis: Meaning & Assessment
• Recognition of RBBB & LBBB
• STEM I & NSTEM I – What’s the Difference

Fast & Slow Dysrhythmias

• Choosing Your Monitor Leads Wisely
• Identifying AV Passive & Active Tachycardias
• Aberrant Pathways
• Atrial Fibrillation with WPW
• AV Node Re-entry Rhythms
• Mono and Polymorphic V-Tach
• Heart Blocks
• Critical Nursing Actions

Cardiovascular Drug Cabinet from A to Z

• The Latest Updates & Recommendations
• Medications that Impact Cardiac Output
• Vasoactive Medications
• Medications that Impact Clotting
• Treating Hyperlipidemia
• Management Strategies for Hypertension
• Nursing Implications for Administration
• Polypharmacy
• Precautions with the Elderly Patient

DAY 2

Acute Coronary Syndrome: Diagnosis & Management Guidelines

• STEM I vs. NSTEM I Treatment Strategies
• Critical Cardiac Labs
• EKG Interpretation: Identifying the Differences
• Urgent vs. Emergent Interventions
• Managing Complications

The Failing Heart: Acute Management Priorities

• Systolic vs. Diastolic Heart Failure
• Classification Systems
• Acute Medication Protocols
• Nursing Considerations With:
• Biventricular Pacing
• Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators
• Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump

Cardiac Emergencies: Risk, Recognition, & Response

• Bedside Assessment Clues
• Key Interventions for:
• Pulmonary Embolus
• Myocardial Rupture/Tamponade
• Tension Pneumothorax
• Aortic Dissection
• Critical Thinking Checkpoints

Emergency Interventions for Atrial Fibrillation

• Critical Decision-Making: The Decompensating Patient
• Pharmacological Management Strategies to:
• Control Rate
• Control Rhythm
• Prevent Stroke
• Current Treatment Recommendations:
• Cardioversion
• Ablation
• Surgical Intervention
• Key Nursing Assessments & Interventions