After completing this course you’ll be able to:
| 1. | Describe the seven phases of the cardiac cycle. |
| 2. | Define cardiac output, preload, afterload, and contractility. |
| 3. | Compare chemoreceptors and baroreceptors. |
| 4. | Describe several chemicals in the body that affect heart action. |
| 5. | Describe myocytes and autorhythmic cells. |
| 6. | Describe the sinoatrial node. |
| 7. | Compare the left anterior descending artery and the left circumflex artery. |
| 8. | List the three major systems that drain the capillary bed. |
| 9. | List the various risk factors for cardiovascular disease. |
| 10. | Discuss the effects of hypertension. |
| 11. | Describe populations at risk for coronary vascular disease. |
| 12. | Discuss psychosocial health as related to cardiovascular disease. |
| 13. | Discuss the six steps of evidence-based practice. |
| 14. | Describe the clinical audit as a means of evaluating evidence. |
| 15. | Define an ethical dilemma. |
| 16. | State why genetic research is vital. |
| 17. | Describe the method for measuring jugular venous pressure. |
| 18. | Compare a pulsus alternans and a pulsus paradoxus. |
| 19. | Describe adventitious breath sounds according to Table 9.4. |
| 20. | Describe the theoretical basis for doing a 12-lead ECG. |
| 21. | Describe the normal waveforms and their significance according to Table 10.2. |
| 22. | Describe patient preparation for an ECG. |
| 23. | Compare the three-electrode monitoring system, five-electrode monitoring system, and the ten-electrode monitoring system. |
| 24. | Define telemetry and discuss drawbacks. |
| 25. | Describe the various generic laboratory tests. |
| 26. | Describe commonly used markers of myocardial necrosis. |
| 27. | Describe a cardiac catheterization procedure including peri-procedural and post-procedural care. |
| 28. | Compare transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. |
| 29. | Describe magnetic resonance imaging and list the risks. |
| 30. | List structural abnormalities and arrhythmias seen in sudden cardiac death. |
| 31. | Describe the types of cardiomyopathies. |
| 32. | List several hazards to the victim and rescuer when an out-of-hospital arrest occurs. |
| 33. | Describe the basic life support flow chart. (Figure 15.2) |
| 34. | Define ethical principles in resuscitation. |
| 35. | Describe the advanced directive. |
| 36. | Describe several contributing factors to myocardial ischemia or infarction. |
| 37. | Compare patients with an elevated ST segment and non-ST elevation during a myocardial infarction. |
| 38. | Discuss triage nurse guidelines for identification of acute coronary syndrome patients. (Table 18.6) |
| 39. | Discuss the findings of Pollack and Gibler 2001, regarding risk factors for CAD. |
| 40. | Discuss the value of exercise tolerance tests when biomarkers are negative. |
| 41. | Describe the steps of the “4 D’s.” |
| 42. | State the key goal of reperfusion strategy. |
| 43. | List the limitations and benefits of lytic therapy. |
| 44. | List the three critical time periods when seeking to reperfuse in STEMI. |
| 45. | Compare the use of nitrates, beta blockers, and calcium channel blockers as anti-ischemic therapies. |
| 46. | Compare unfractionated heparin and low-molecular-weight heparin according to Table 22.3. |
| 47. | Describe the three types of heart block. |
| 48. | Compare atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. |
| 49. | Discuss the findings of Peberdy et al. 2003, regarding in-hospital cardiac arrest and strategies to facilitate early detection. |
| 50. | Describe the ABCDE approach during post-resuscitation care. |
| 51. | Describe a simple “2-minute” bedside tool for clinical assessment of a patient’s hemodynamic status in acute heart failure, according to Nohria et al. 2003. |
| 52. | Describe treatments for “refractory” in acute heart failure. |
| 53. | Describe the Chronic Care Model which was adapted by the World Health Organization. |
| 54. | Describe secondary prevention. |