Program

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Taking the WTF out of MCS: What Nurses Need to Know About Mechanical Circulatory Support (available virtually)

May 27, 2023 from 11:45am EDT to 12:30pm EDT

Available Virtually

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is becoming increasingly prevalent as a bridging strategy for end-stage heart failure in both adults and children. These devices are becoming more widely available, and nurses are seeing them more often in both the hospital and in the community. Types of ventricular assist device (VAD) support include right, left, and biventricular support, and understanding the various modes can help nurses better care for these patients. Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a more extreme form of mechanical circulatory support, providing either full cardiorespiratory support or solely respiratory support in an attempt to bridge patients to recovery from varying underlying pathologies. Understanding how these devices work and the implications for patient care is an important skill for cardiovascular nurses.

In this workshop, nurses will get a hands-on look at various types of mechanical circulatory support devices and will begin to understand the ‘what’ and ‘why’ behind the care they are providing to these patients. An introduction to the mode of delivery for each device, including centrifugal and pulsatile pneumatic pumps, will be explored including risks and benefits of each.  A closer look at the common complications of both VADs and ECMO will help nurses better understand why these patients teeter between bleeding and clotting, volume administration and diuresis, and vasoconstriction versus afterload reduction. At the end of the workshop, nurses will have the skills and confidence to provide more proficient care to patients on mechanical circulatory support.

Speakers / Panelists