Nursing Education
Overview
Nursing education at the Heart Institute mirrors the broad skills that encompass all aspects of cardiovascular medicine and patient care. Opportunities for education and professional development are provided to the nursing staff by a team of clinical nurse educators, encouraging life long learning through:
- Regular review classes
- Unit based inservices
- Day conferences
- Web based learning
- Simulation and problem based education
Nurses new to the Heart Institute are provided with an individualized and needs-based orientation with an emphasis on cardiac care. When comfortable with a novice skill set, nurses are invited to enhance their expertise by, for example, becoming certified to care for patients who have implanted ventricular assist devices (VADs) or who are on Continual Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT).
Clinical Experience for Student Nurses
The Heart Institute partners with the University of Ottawa and Algonquin College to provided clinical placements for student nurses enrolled in the Bachelor and Masters of Nursing programs. Senior clinical nursing staff precept student nurses allowing them to develop the skills necessary to develop their own clinical practice. Opportunities exist for student nurses to do their consolidation experience on the wards, step down units and critical care units of the Heart Institute.
Critical Care Education
Registered Nurses who wish to specialize in cardiac critical care, but who have no critical care experience, may be invited to participate in a 20 week Critical Care Program provided by the Heart Institute and the Ottawa Hospital. This program is taught by the critical care educators from the four critical care units at the Institute and the Hospital, with the clinical portion of the program spent in the unit into which the participant was hired. Successful applicants of posted positions for the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) or the Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care units (CSICU) are eligible for this incredible educational opportunity.
Cardiovascular and Critical Care Certification
Registered Nurses at the Heart Institute are encouraged to attain their certification in either Cardiovascular or Critical Care Nursing. These certifications are provided by the Canadian Nurses Association and are part of a respected national certification program. The certification credential is an important indicator to patients, employers, the public and professional licensing bodies that the certified nurse is qualified, competent and current in their chosen specialty of nursing practice. Certified nurses have met rigorous requirements to achieve this expert credential. The Heart Institute provides both financial and educational resources to nurses wishing to write the credentialing exam.
Professional Training
The Cardiac Nursing Series is presented by the Heart Institute to provide up-to-date information for nurses and health care professionals to advance and/or review the care and management of patients with acute and chronic cardiac conditions. The day-long sessions are offered monthly from September until March. All participants receive a certificate of attendance and eight Continuing Education Units (CEU's). The series covers:
- Cardiac Assessment and Diagnostics
- Basic Arrhythmia Interpretation
- Acute Coronary Syndrome and 12-Lead ECG Interpretation
- Electrophysiology, Pacemakers & Defibrillators
- Heart Failure, Cardiac Assist Devices & Cardiac Surgery
The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) Educational Series presents Heart Institute APNs sharing their experience and expertise in a variety of specialty areas. The video series provides state-of-the-art information and case studies in subjects such as cardiology, cardiac surgery, heart failure, transplantation, adult congenital heart disease, pulmonary hypertension and cardiac telehealth. The material is relevant to nurses working in a variety of care settings, from general to specialized.
