Description
The Cardiac Surgery Certification (CSC®) Review Course is designed to follow the AACN Certification test plan for the CSC® exam. This subspecialty certification will assist nurses working with acutely/critically ill adult cardiac surgery patients in the first 48 hours post-operatively.
The course is perfect for nurses working with cardiovascular surgery patients.
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About the Study Guide
Ace the CSC®!: You Can Do It! Study Guide was designed to serve as a succinct guide following AACN’s test blueprint for the CSC® examination. Updated in 2022, the Second Edition was purposely written using only bullet points containing key information. This book includes over 180 practice questions with answers and rationale! The key to success is not only having the core knowledge in Cardiac Surgery, but also practicing as many questions as possible. Understanding rationale for correct and incorrect answers will enhance test taking strategies.
Learning Objectives
At the completion of this eLearning, participants should be able to:
Test Plan & Cardiac Basics
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Discuss normal blood flow through the myocardium
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Describe coronary perfusion and walls each coronary vessel supplies
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Discuss common cardiovascular medications used for acute coronary syndrome & heart failure management
Hemodynamics
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Describe preload, afterload & contractility and the effects when decreased or elevated
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Discuss the use of the pulmonary artery catheter & interventions to treat abnormal values
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Discuss the hemodynamic findings of different shock states (Cardiogenic, hypovolemic, vasoplegic)
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Describe vasoactive infusions including vasopressors, positive inotropes and vasodilators and the effects on hemodynamics
Cardiac Surgery
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Discuss the difference between on and off pump coronary artery bypass grafting
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Describe cardiac complications after cardiac surgery
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Discuss signs of cardiac tamponade & how to treat it
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Analyze the anatomy of the 12 Lead ECG
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Describe ECG leads that visualize different walls of the myocardium
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Discuss the differences between inferior, right ventricular, anterior, lateral & posterior wall Mis
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Discuss medication therapies for acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
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Discuss types of aortic dissection and treatment strategies
Valve Surgery & Procedures
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Describe the difference between valvular regurgitation (insufficiency) and stenosis
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Discuss treatment modalities and surgical options for aortic, mitral & tricuspid valve dysfunction
Bleeding, Coagulopathies & Anticoagulation
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Discuss strategies for bleeding reversal
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Discuss antidotes for anticoagulants
Electrical Issues
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Describe medications used to treat rapid rhythms (afib vs. SVT)
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Discuss the MAZE procedure to treat Afib
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Discuss treatment modalities for symptomatic bradycardia
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Describe emergent pacing options including transcutaneous & epicardial pacing
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Discuss emergent, temporary pacing codes
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Analyze ACLS vs. CALS for cardiac arrest management
Pulmonary Complications
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Analyze arterial blood gas results
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Discuss various pulmonary complications after cardiac surgery including atelectasis, pneumonia, TRALI, ARDS, TACO and pneumomediastinum
Everything Else
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Discuss management of acute kidney injury including hemodialysis and CRRT
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Describe common electrolyte imbalances and treatments
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Discuss stroke management after cardiac surgery
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Identify signs of post-operative delirium and management
What Nurses Are Saying About This Online Course
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fun, easy to understand and remember
Chiara Thalla
I’ve been waiting for this course since after I finished the Hemodynamics Boot Camp and CMC Review Course. As always, Nicole made this one fun, easy to under...
Read MoreI’ve been waiting for this course since after I finished the Hemodynamics Boot Camp and CMC Review Course. As always, Nicole made this one fun, easy to understand and remember. Here’s to achieving that CVICU Nursing trifecta and the CCRN-CSC-CMC title!
Read LessCourse Curriculum
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1
Welcome to the Cardiac Surgery Certification Review Course
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Read First: How To Navigate This Course
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Download Handouts Here!
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2
Module 1: Course Overview
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Lesson 1: Course Overview & CSC® Test Plan
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3
Module 2: Cardiac Basics
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Lesson 1: Cardiac Anatomy
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Lesson 2: Heart Sounds
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Lesson 3: Cardiac Medications
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4
Module 3: Hemodynamics
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Lesson 1: Basic Hemodynamic Concepts
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Lesson 2: The Pulmonary Artery Catheter
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Lesson 3: Applying the Numbers
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Lesson 4: Vasoactive Medications: Pressors and Inotropes
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Lesson 5: Hypertension and Vasodilators
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Lesson 6: Shock States
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Lesson 7: Mechanical Circulatory Support
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5
Module 4: Cardiac Surgery
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Lesson 1: Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)
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Lesson 2: Cardiac Complications
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Lesson 3: Cardiac Ischemia
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Lesson 4: The 12 Lead ECG
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Lesson 5: Thoracic Surgery & Aneurysms
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6
Module 5: Valve Surgery & Procedures
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Lesson 1: Murmurs
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Lesson 2: Aortic Valve Dysfunction
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Lesson 3: Mitral Valve Dysfunction
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Lesson 4: Tricuspid Valve Dysfunction
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Lesson 5: Endocarditis & Inflammatory Issues
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7
Module 6: Bleeding, Coagulopathies & Anticoagulation
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Lesson 1: Bleeding Reversal
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Lesson 2: Anticoagulation
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8
Module 7: Electrical Issues
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Lesson 1: Atrial Arrhythmias
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Lesson 2: Bradycardias & Emergent Pacing
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Lesson 3: Cardiac Arrest
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9
Module 8: Pulmonary Complications
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Lesson 1: ABG & Capnography Review
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Lesson 2: Pulmonary Complications
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10
Module 9: Everything Else!
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Lesson 1: Neurologic Impairment
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Lesson 2: Kidney Injury
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Lesson 3: Electrolyte Imbalances
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11
Module 10: Wrap Up & Next Steps!
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Wrap Up & Thank You!
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12
Course Quiz
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CSC® Certification Review Quiz
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13
Course Evaluation
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CSC® Certification Review Evaluation
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Instructors
MN, RN, CCNS, CCRN-CMC, PCCN
Nicole Kupchik
Nicole Kupchik has been a critical care nurse for over 25 years. Originally from Northwest Indiana, she worked as a traveling nurse and settled in Seattle, WA in 1998. She graduated from Purdue University in 1993 and in 2008 obtained a Master of Nursing as a Clinical Nurse Specialist from the University of Washington.
After moving to Seattle, Nicole took great interest in Resuscitation while working at Harborview Medical Center. She was part of a team who wrote one of the first protocols in the US for Therapeutic Hypothermia after cardiac arrest and has published numerous papers on the topic. In 2009, she led a team that launched an award-winning Sepsis Alert System.
In 2013, Nicole founded Nicole Kupchik Consulting, Inc. She has taught CCRN® & PCCN® Certification Review courses for over 10 years and has helped thousands of nurses achieve certification! She strongly believes every nurse can and should be board certified in their specialty!
In 2017, Nicole published "Ace the CCRN®: You Can Do It" Study Guide and Practice Question Book as well as well as "Ace the PCCN®: You Can Do It" Study Guide and Practice Question Book. In 2018, she published "Ace the CMC®: You Can Do It" Study Guide. "Ace the CSC®: You Can Do It!" Study Guide for the Cardiac Surgery Certification was published in March 2019. Her latest book, Critical Care Survival Guide was published in April 2023.
Accreditation
Refund Policy
Extension Policy
Expiration Time
For example, students in Pacific Standard Time (UTC 8 hrs ahead), will find their class expires at 4:00 PM PST. Due to the major time difference, we have set all courses to expire on day 366 so you receive a full year of access plus a few bonus hours.
