At AACN, sharing trusted, evidence-based cardiovascular resources is central to our mission. Equipping nurses with the latest information strengthens clinical practice, improves patient outcomes and supports healthier communities year-round.
This year, the American Heart Association (AHA) released updated 2025 guidelines for CPR and emergency cardiovascular care (ECC), emphasizing early recognition of cardiac arrest, high-quality compressions, and rapid defibrillation. Nurses are encouraged to review these changes and incorporate them into practice, reinforcing both bedside preparedness and patient education.
To support our exceptional community of nurses, AACN has curated cardiovascular resources that help broaden awareness, deepen clinical knowledge and guide practice during American Heart Month and beyond.
Featured AACN Cardiovascular Resources
Blogs
- Stay Informed: Update on Heart Disease in Women – One of every three women dies of some form of cardiovascular disease. Read more on how to stay updated on the latest developments.
- Sleep and Heart Failure: What do we know and what else do we need to know? – The impact of sleep on cardiovascular health is increasingly recognized, and AHA added sleep to its cardiovascular health checklist.
CE Activities (Recorded NTI Sessions)
- 90 Is the New 60: Geriatric Cardiovascular Case Studies – This session explores how age and functional status influence both the development and management of cardiovascular disease.
- Cardiac Problems in Children: Comprehensive Review and Latest Innovations – This session reviews key pediatric cardiovascular conditions, including congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, heart failure, dysrhythmias and transplantation.
- Complex Rhythm Management: A Review of Atrial Fibrillation Management Guidelines – Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. Explore current guidelines for antiarrhythmic and anticoagulation therapy.
Journal Articles
- Acute Coronary Syndromes: Myocardial Infarction Available – This column reviews ECG changes associated with STEMI, highlighting common infarction locations and the corresponding indicative and reciprocal leads.
- Inflammatory Cardiac Disease in a Young Adult With Syncope – This ECG puzzler addresses electrocardiogram interpretation for clinical practice.
Podcast
- Evolving From Bedside ECMO Nurses to APRN Leaders – Listen to the first-hand account of two nurses who describe their evolution from bedside nurses focused on ECMO therapy to advanced practice nurse leaders
Clinical Scene Investigator (CSI) Project
- Take a Look in the Discharge Book – One New York CTICU reduced LVAD driveline infections by 44%, lowered readmissions to 18%, and saved their hospital an estimated $709,500 annually by implementing a standardized care bundle and improving nurse and patient education.
- Heart Steps: Walking You Through Your Recovery Plan to the Beat of Your Heart – A Chicago CSICU reduced average length of stay 2.5 days for patients with coronary artery bypass grafts (CABGs) by implementing a standardized preoperative education program with a structured rollout supported by continual staff engagement and strong interdisciplinary collaboration.
Pocket Reference Card
- AACN Cardiovascular Assessment Pocket Reference Card – This handy resource provides nurses with a quick reference for heart sounds, chest pain, vascular assessment, cardiac labs, cardiovascular signs and pacemaker evaluation.
Book
- Cardiac Surgery Essentials for Critical Care Nursing, 4th Ed. – Critical care nurses play a vital role in postoperative recovery, and this book provides essential guidance to care for patients who’ve undergone cardiac surgery, from ICU recovery through discharge.
Certifications
- Cardiac Medicine Certification (CMC) – This subspecialty certification is for certified nurses who provide direct care to acutely/critically ill adult cardiac patients.
- Cardiac Surgery Certification (CSC) – This subspecialty certification is for certified nurses who provide direct care to acutely/critically ill adult cardiac surgery patients in the first 48 hours postoperatively.
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Micro-Credential – This micro-credential validates your specialty knowledge in caring for patients receiving lifesaving ECMO therapy.
Courses
- Essentials of ECG & Dysrhythmia Monitoring – This online course builds skills and confidence in identifying cardiac rhythms, helping nurses respond promptly and appropriately for optimal patient outcomes.
- AACN and The Institute for Extracorporeal Life Support Present – The ECMO Course – This online course helps develop an understanding of the fundamental principles of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support.
Additional Cardiovascular Resources
- Cardiovascular Clinical Resources Webpage – Explore this curated collection of AACN resources that cover the spectrum of cardiovascular diseases and medical and surgical interventions for all clinical nurses from novice to APRN.
Join the Effort
American Heart Month is more than a moment; it’s a movement. This is the perfect time to review the latest AHA CPR/ECC updates, reflect on your practice and share trusted cardiovascular resources with your teams and patients.
Together, we can empower patients, elevate nursing practice and continue to reduce the burden of heart disease nationwide.
How are you spreading awareness about heart health this month?