To become a certified heart failure nurse, you need to meet certain requirements. First, you should have passed the American Association for Respiratory and Critical Care Nursing (AARC) Certified Basic Nurse (CBN) exam. In addition to passing the ABCN examination, you should also be a registered nurse with at least five years of experience in a specialty that is relevant to the job opportunity. In order to become a certified nursing specialist, you will need to meet the specific educational and clinical requirements outlined below.
The American Heart Association offers several different certifications for cardiovascular health. The ACN or Advanced Cardiovascular Nursing is the most common and the one that you will need to fulfill to become a certified heart failure nurse. If you want to be able to treat patients who are at risk for acute coronary syndromes, then you will need to complete the ACN. This involves four components: board certification; 3 additional credited topics; two hospital stays and two externships.
The American Association for Respiratory and Critical Care Nursing offers the AARN as a part of its nursing certification board certification program. The exam is known as the AARN-based ARN. You can take this exam from a variety of locations. In order to be a certified heart failure nurse, you will need to meet the criteria from the American Association for Respiratory and Critical Care Nursing.
A certified nurse assistance certification or CNA is another requirement to become a heart failure nurse. The certification takes approximately two years of schooling and one year of practice. The training is given through online courses and one-on-one supervision. Once you have earned your certification, you will need to pass a state-administered written exam and an oral exam before becoming qualified to work as a certified nursing assistance or CNA.
The CNA exam can take up to eight weeks to complete. To be eligible for this certification, you will need to have completed a high school diploma or an equivalent. In addition to taking the exam, you will also need to complete CPR in cardiac care nurses training and then a board exam. The requirements are based on the state that you live in. Most community colleges offer this training as well as universities.
To be certified as a CNA, you will need to pass both the clinical and written portions of the examination. The clinical portion consists of learning how to provide a patient with CPR while they are on the floor of the hospital or other location. It also involves learning how to administer oxygen, manage intravenous drugs and learn about cardiac rehabilitation. During the written portion of the exam, you will need to demonstrate that you understand the concept of cardiographic algorithms. You will be given a series of questions and you must answer correctly in order to pass. The two-year period prior to the exam is the most important time to make sure you understand the concepts and how they will apply to your career.
A certified CNA can work in many different settings such as hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes and outpatient clinics. This profession does require that you have worked for at least two years in a professional nursing specialty. With a CNA certification, you will be able to work in almost any medical facility in the country. Although this nursing specialty is great for those who already have experience, it is not the best option for those who have never handled a patient before.
