Circulation and acute cardiac care

Academic year: 2010-2011 Course code module SP-VPLVR018 Semester: 2nd semester Credits: 5 Study load (hours) 140 Theory (hours): 22,00 Practice/Exercises(hours): 0,00 Other (hours): 0,00 Part-time program: 1 Instructor(s) Christiaan Vrints Koen De Meester Language of instruction: Dutch Semester exam information: exam in the 2nd semester Contract restriction information: faculty decision 1. Prerequisites *Algemene competenties - The student has the competences of a Bachelor Nursing orObstetrics - To be able to follow the lessons fluently, it is recommended to freshen up the knowledge of cardiovascular anatomy and basic insights in electrocardiography *Sequentiality None Bachelor's degree in nursing 2. Objectives (expected learning outcomes) -          Thorough knowledge of physio-pathological processes that are necessary for an adequate nursery and obstetric care. -          Understanding of: ·          The methodology followed to clarify physio-pathological processes in cardiology ·          The importance of (historical) epidemiological data ·          The problem of implementation of guidelines in daily practice ·          The multifactorial origin of cardiovascular diseases ·          The relevance of the multidisciplinary approach of cardiovascular diseases ·          The economic impact of cardiovasculardiseases 3. Course content 1. Atherosclerosis/coronary artery disease (CAD) After a short epidemiological introduction that illustrates the evolution of CAD to become the most important cause of death in Western world, risk factors for atherosclerosis and CAD will be discussed extensively. It is emphasized that both primary and secondary prevention need a multidisciplinary approach. The classical clinical manifestations of CAD, angina and acute coronary syndromes, will be extensively covered. Medical therapy, interventions and treatment of complications will be also be discussed. 2. Chronic heart failure (CHF) CHF is a syndrome with an important impact on Western healthcare, both in terms of healthcare economics and for the individual patient. Patients with CHF have limited quality of life, are frequently hospitalised and the disease carries poor prognosis. It is anticipated that many patients with CHF will be included in so-called “disease management programmes”. Hence, the relevance of such programmes deserves attention in this course. The treatment of CHF patients not only consists of medical therapy, but through extensive education and nursing guidance, the patient can play an active role (flexibility in therapy, recognition of symptoms, self-care, etc.).  3. Arrhythmia Sudden death is an important cause of death involving a whole range of underlying diseases. Physio-pathological insights (substrate-vulnerability-trigger) as well as measures to be taken in this life-threatening situation will be discussed. Much attention will go to the electrical treatment of ventricular fibrillation and the impact of AED’s (automatic external defibrillator). 4. Patient cases Besides providing background information, practical implementation of theoretical knowledge will be extensively covered in an interactive way and patient cases will be discussed. Based on these cases, it will become clear how guidelines can be modified depending on the availability of resources, staff and specific circumstances. 5. The role of nurses   The possible role of the advanced nurse practitioner and researcher in the cardiological discipline will be illustrated by the following lectures:   -          heart failure nurse -          CPU (Chest pain unit) nurse -          Nursing specialist in congenital cardiology   4. Teaching method Direct contact: Lectures Exercise sessions Personal work: Assignments - in group Case studies - in group 5. Assessment method Exam: Written, without oral presentation Closed book Multiple choice 6. Compulsory reading – study material - powerpoint presentations of the lectures will be available on blackboard and handouts will be distributed at the beginning of each course.    7. Recommended reading - study material - during the lectures, interesting papers (mostly review articles in important peer reviewed journals) will be referred to and if possible, these papers will be made available - Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine and Braunwald’s Heart Disease are important handbooks, which can be consulted in the library of medicine. * Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine (16th Edition). ISBN: 0071391401DOI: 10.1036/0071391401 ** Braunwald's Heart Disease (7th edition). ISBN 1416000151 8. Tutoring Students are encouraged to contact lecturers in order to gain more information, either personally or via e-mail. If desirable and feasible, attending a clinical or technical activity at the University Hospital of Antwerp is possible.  laatste aanpassing: last update: 15/01/2009 10:24 david.kums