Practice Updates for Cardiovascular Nurses
New CPR Guidelines
New Guidelines for CPR were released by the ECC committee of the American Heart Association in late November 2005 and published in December 13, 2005 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association and the winter 2005 issue of Currents
>The new guidelines emphasize “push hard and push fast” approach to chest compressions, avoiding interruptions and reductions in blood flow to vital organs, and a new 30:2 ratio of compressions to breaths for adults and children, except for two healthcare- rescuer CPR on children and infants at 15:2 excluding newborns.
>Healthcare providers are to minimize interruptions in chest compressions
>One shock scenario with AED’s is recommended followed by 2 minutes of CPR prior to analyzing and shocking again
>Access to AED’s in public places is further encouraged and now is without mandatory healthcare provider oversight.
Healthcare providers are instructed to continue to provide basic life support according to the standards to which they were trained unless instructed to perform otherwise by a physician at the scene of the emergency. CPR Instructors are being updated starting in the Spring of 2006 and will be rolling out the new guidelines in their classes starting thereafter.
For the full version of the new guidelines along with carefully researched rationales for these dramatic changes, go to www.americanheart.org/eccguidelines .
May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month. For a list of NHLB Institute resources, including kits, fact sheets, DASH handouts, and month's activities, go to http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/nhbpep_kit/ .
ANCC Highlights Certified Cardiac Vascular Nurses during February , National Heart Awareness Month
All cardiovascular nurses are encouraged to go to the ANCC’s credentialing webpage for an invigorating and motivating celebration of the role of cardiovascular nurses and certification. They devoted the webpage to the benefits and contributions of Certified Cardiac Vascular Nurses as they celebrate National Heart Month.
According to ANCC, “With 24 million people diagnosed with heart disease, ANCC-Certified Cardiac Vascular Nurses are increasingly in demand. These specialized nurses play varied roles in healthcare facilities, depending on the nature of the institution; some are involved in critical care and invasive procedures; others may be primarily concerned with diagnostic and preventative medicine in ambulatory care settings. The unifying factor for these respected professionals is the level of confidence that can be placed in them by administrators, colleagues and their patients. More and more healthcare facilities are learning of the benefits of hiring certified nurses. Meanwhile, increasing numbers of cardiac vascular nurses are seeking ANCC Certification because it validates their knowledge base. “
The American Nurses Credentialing Center conducted a poll of 600 Certified Cardiac Vascular Nurses in November 2005 and asked them how their certification had affected their professional life and nursing practice. 92% reported greater sense of self confidence and personal satisfaction, 38% reported increased professional autonomy, 28% reported better patient outcomes, 33% reported increased salary, 26% reported improved professional relationship with patients, 49% stated certification had improved their marketability, 60% received recognition from peers, 18% reported a promotion and/or more responsibility, and 74% reported it validated their professional accomplishment.
The webpage lists the name of the current 900 Certified Cardiac Vascular Nurses, includes a download of a poster for Naitonal HeArt Awareness Month that also recognizes the role of certified nurses, and includes testimonials of certified nurses about what their certification means to them.