In an unexpected year that turned the world – and our healthcare systems – upside down, just-in-time education and practice resources proved more valuable than ever. To support nurses in meeting the clinical and well-being challenges of 2020, AACN redoubled its efforts to put timely, evidence-based knowledge and tools in your hands quickly. The following collection represents the most popular progressive and critical care nursing resources offered by AACN in 2020 in three categories: COVID-19 resources, CE activities and webinars. We’re confident you will find something to enhance your practice and optimize care of patients, families and yourself.
COVID-19 Resources
As the COVID-19 crisis evolved, AACN explored ways to support nurses with urgently needed clinical and well-being content. Here are some of the COVID-19 resources that our community of progressive and critical care nurses found most valuable this year.
- COVID-19 Pulmonary, ARDS and Ventilator Education (Online Course) — This free online course provides vital just-in-time learning for nurses new to the ICU or unfamiliar with managing ICU patients. The program explores the most essential elements of caring for patients with COVID-19.
- ARDS, COVID-19 and Pronation Therapy (Web Article) — Pronation therapy requires teamwork to safely achieve success without complications. This article provides resources to help you understand the benefits and how-to’s of the procedure and improve patient outcomes.
- Keeping COVID-19 Acute Cardiovascular Effects Top of Mind (Web Article) ― While the pulmonary complications of COVID-19 receive the most attention, the cardiovascular risks and consequences are just as real. This article discusses COVID-19-related cardiovascular implications, considerations and available practice resources.
- Moral Distress in a Crisis: What, Why and How to Cope (Podcast) ― In this chaotic year, nurses have been even more susceptible to moral distress. This podcast explores moral distress and provides strategies for dealing with the complex ethical decisions during COVID-19 and building moral resilience.
- Procedure 19: Pronation Therapy (Textbook Excerpt) ― This clinical procedure, taken from “AACN Procedure Manual for High Acuity, Progressive and Critical Care,” 7th Ed., provides step-by-step instruction on the prone positioning process, including both manual and automated therapy approaches.
Continuing Education (CE) Activities
AACN’s CE library contains over 200 learning activities to choose from that span a broad range of topics and specialties. Your colleagues most often selected these five learning activities to earn CE contact hours and CERPs.
- A Team-Based Early Action Protocol to Address Ethical Concerns in the Intensive Care Unit (Journal Article) — This article in American Journal of Critical Care (AJCC) explores the benefits for patients of regular communication among the healthcare team using an interprofessional protocol for ethical concerns.
- Double Trouble: Patients With Both True and False Arrhythmia Alarms (Journal Article) — A study discussed in this article in Critical Care Nurse (CCN) examines the impact on nurses of excessive ECG monitor alarms – and how understanding factors associated with arrhythmia alarms might aid in developing solutions.
- Right Ventricular Failure (Journal Article) ― Right ventricular dysfunction in patients with chronic heart failure often serves as a predictor of mortality. This article in Advanced Critical Care (ACC) addresses the related threats to patient survival and management of right-sided heart failure.
- Infection Prevention and Control: Critical Role of the Bedside Nurse (Recorded Presentation) ― This recorded NTI conference presentation explores the use of nurse-driven protocols to reduce urinary catheterization, ventilator-associated pneumonia and central line-associated bloodstream infections.
- Sepsis in the Context of Non-Ventilator-Acquired Pneumonia (Journal Article) ― This article in AJCC reviews the incidence and intersection of non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) and sepsis in patients in the U.S., including prevention strategies that have proven successful.
AACN Webinars
In a year dominated by COVID-19, it’s not surprising that the most popular AACN webinars of 2020 focus on related topics, such as proning, ECMO and ventilation. These webinars help nurses put conceptual knowledge into practice, are free to view and offer CE hours.
- Why Prone? Why Now? Improving Outcomes for ARDS Patients (On-Demand) ― Prone positioning is one of the most challenging interventions for nurses to manage. This webinar explores the why, who, when, how and how long of proning for critically ill patients with ARDS, including guidance for safe and effective implementation.
- Extracorporeal Life Support: RN Management of ECMO Patients (On-Demand) ― This webinar enhances knowledge of the most advanced oxygenation support available to patients. The presentation discusses types of extracorporeal life support, critical assessments and specific nursing interventions to use in your practice.
- Ketamine as a Non-Opioid Option for Pain Management (On-Demand) ― Ketamine is increasingly used as an adjunct in pain management to decrease the need for opioids. This webinar addresses the actions of ketamine, indications for use and considerations for determining whether ketamine has a place in your practice.
- Standard vs. Alternative Vent Modes: What’s the Difference? (On-Demand) ― Employing alternative modes of ventilation can protect lung tissue, enabling the earliest possible ventilation liberation. This webinar examines the differences between standard and alternative ventilation, including uses and limitations of both modalities.
- Coaching Nurses on Building Resilience in a Turbulent Time (On-Demand) ― A recent survey reported more than half of nurse respondents feeling overwhelmed by the ongoing stresses and trauma of COVID-19. This webinar offers nurse leaders strategies for coaching nurses to work through challenges and build resilience.