Cardiovascular Disease is my favorite topic, the area where I shine. The module introduces Myocardial Infarction but if you want a deeper understanding of cardiovascular topics, the Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) course might be for you. The ACLS course is not required but if you think your job might include responding to codes then the ACLS is for you. All nurses are required to be current in Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) which is also another course not offered in the RN refresher course. Make sure that the BCLS course you take is an American Heart Association certified course. The BCLS course from the American Red Cross may not be acceptable to hospitals where you apply.
The module does a nice job discussing Heart Failure (HF). We are now discouraged from naming the diagnosis congestive heart failure because heart failure does not always mean congestive symptoms. I like the break down into right and left heart failure and how to treat both. The 4 New York Heart Association (NYHA) Classification of heart failure is presented along with the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) stages. The stages supplement the NYHA classification. The stages were developed to treat patients earlier and improve survival. This section has a nice table on the common causes of HF, the symptoms, and how to treat the various stages of HF including the nursing diagnosis, expected outcomes, and interventions.
Peripheral Vascular Disease is also discussed briefly. Hypertension is discussed throughout the module since Hypertension is one of the first processes leading to HF. Aortic aneurysm and stents are mentioned. There is an excellent table with drug classes at the end of the module. The table is nice because it lists the indication and the key nursing implications (what to watch for when administering cardiovascular drugs).
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