NASPE/CAP Educational Guidelines: Pacing and Electrophysiology

Over the past three decades, the field of cardiac arrhythmias has witnessed rapid technological advances in patient care and treatment. Although physicians primarily direct the management of this process, a clear need exists for well trained, knowledgeable support personnel, such as registered nurses, physician assistants and cardiovascular technicians, whose practices involve different aspects of pacing and electrophysiology. This unique manual fills an information void that has existed in the field of pacing and electrophysiology, as the only guide providing standardized criteria for the certification of associated professionals. To acknowledge the need for different levels of proficiency, the guide includes a core curriculum, and further sections outlining an appropriate body of knowledge for those specialising in pacing and arrhythmia devices, or electrophysiology. Major topics are listed in the label of the chapter, followed by a brief introduction. Objectives, a glossary, and ample references all enable the reader to conduct a self-paced tutorial, and practices to establish competency based on education/orientation programs which comply with JCAHO and other regulatory bodies. Mastery of this book's content should bot only help establish a more reliable professional standard, but, in so doing, enhance the quality of patient care.

Table of Contents:
NASPE Mission Statement Introduction Part One: Core Curriculum1. Fundamentals of Electronics2. Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology3. Basic Electrophysiology4. Assessment5. Electrocardiography6. Basic Pharmacology7. Patient Education (General)8. Pacemakers9. Safety10. Regulatory and Cost Issues11. Medical Jurisprudence12. Cardiac Life Support13. Pacemaker Radiology Part Two: Arrhythmia Devices Curriculum14. The Patient and The Pacemaker15. Hardware16. Computer Applications in Pacing and Defibrillation17. Emergency and Temporary Pacing18. Pacemaker Implantation19. Pacemaker Follow-Up20. Pediatric Considerations21. Research Requirements with Implanted Devices22. Arrhythmic Devices Patient Education23. Antitachycardia Pacing Therapy24. Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators/Tiered Therapy Devices Part Three: Electrophysiology Curriculum25. Basic Electrophysiology26. Clinical Electrophysiology27. Laboratory Procedures28. Instrumentation29. Invasive Electrophysiology Testing30. Mapping Techniques31. Therapeutic Modalities32. Research Guidelines33. Electrophysiology Patient Education34. Signal Averaged ECG35. Tilt Table Testing36. Other Diagnostic Modalities37. IV Sedation/Analgesia Appendix I - Task Analysis