Creating a Self Learning Module For Nurses Caring for Patients Undergoing Angioplasty and Receiving Anticoagulation Therapy

Nurses in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab (CCL or commonly referred to as the Cath Lab) play a critical role in the delivery of high quality care to their patients. Being knowledgeable and current on evidence based practice is the key to being an effective and efficient nurse. Every year there are annual competencies that nurses must demonstrate to prove that they are capable of performing these patient tasks independently. These annual competencies are institution and unit specific and may include tasks such as demonstration of inserting an intravenous catheter, drawing a blood specimen from an arterial line, and reading and interpretation of electrocardiograms (ECG). Some competencies involve the use of Self Learning Modules (SLM) to provide education on topics such as the use of central lines and anticoagulation therapy. Education on anticoagulation is extremely important in CCL nursing. Nurses administer anticoagulants to patients several times a day and need to closely monitor the patient. During an angioplasty procedure high doses of blood thinning medications are administered. It may be possible that nurses administer these medications without fully understanding the purpose or effects. There are differences in institutional protocols regarding nursing care for patients receiving anticoagulants, however general knowledge on the concepts is crucial