The online cardiac surgical nursing course is a practical guide to cardiac surgical nursing on the ITU and the ward (‘floor’). It has been designed by a group of cardiac surgical nurses and surgeons from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the US. It is delivered in a video-lecture style with multiple Q and A sessions throughout lecture series so that you can test your new knowledge as you go.

The basic online cardiac surgical nursing course is aimed at nurses just starting to work in adult cardiac surgery. It covers the basics of anatomy and physiology and operative cardiac surgery. It encompasses lectures on the patient journey from pre-operative decision making, through to patients arriving back on the ITU, being stepped down to the ward / ‘floor’ and finally being discharged home. It contains sections on the basics of wound care, pressure area care, dealing with sedation, analgesia and the confused post cardiac surgical patient. It also has sections on psychological care and the dealing with the difficult issues of death and dying in the cardiac surgical environment.

From the critical care point of view, it covers basic areas of cardiac ITU management and cardiac surgical nursing skills on the intensive care unit. Furthermore, it gives very practical lessons on pacing and chest drain management.