Cardiac Special Topics: Evaluating Syncope, A Case Study Approach- 5CH

Course overview

Target Audience: The target audience for this education program is nurses who want to increase their ability to evaluate syncope and intervene quickly and effectively when caring for patients who present with this problem. Course Overview: It is estimated that one to two percent of all emergency department visits result from a chief complaint of syncope. This is equivalent to approximately one million patients per year. Approximately half of these patients are admitted to the hospital for further testing; the other half is discharged home without a clear diagnosis. It is imperative that nurses and other healthcare professionals be able to appropriately evaluate patients with syncope and intervene in the best interests of the patient. This education program provides information on the evaluation of syncope and how to best intervene. Objectives: Upon completion of this course, nurses should be able to: 1. Differentiate among the different types of syncope. 2. Explain the key features of a health history as they pertain to syncope. 3. Analyze case studies to identify appropriate nursing interventions in the evaluation of syncope. 4. Identify common pitfalls and assumptions when evaluating shortness of breath.