American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Launches Interactive, Online Pharmacology Course

ALISO VIEJO, Calif.,, Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and Elsevier | MC Strategies announce the launch of AACN: Critical Care Pharmacology, a comprehensive, evidence-based online nursing course to help nurses further develop their competencies in the safe administration of medications commonly used in critical care.

Designed for both new and experienced critical care nurses, the course complies with The Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals, including education on the most commonly used medications, best practices and evidence-based interventions. Created in consultation with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), this course is geared to bedside clinicians and educators. The interactive course builds confidence through scenarios of caring for real-world, critical care patients.

AACN: Critical Care Pharmacology is available for individual or institutional purchase through AACN.

"This course breaks new ground in online clinical education," said AACN Director of Communications and Strategic Alliances Ramon Lavandero, RN, MA, MSN, FAAN. "The unique interprofessional framework provides nurses with 360-degree knowledge of the safe administration of medications within the highly complex critical care environment."

In eight lessons, nurses will engage and learn through four key features, including Ask the Pharmacist, Safety Alert, Myth vs. Fact and What's the Evidence? Presented in a case study format using high-tech animations, the course offers clear illustrations of complicated concepts that encourage critical thinking skills.

AACN: Critical Care Pharmacology joins AACN's extensive collection of continuing education resources developed as part of its ongoing commitment to offer critical care nurses the knowledge and tools necessary to provide optimum care. Nurses can take advantage of 13.5 continuing nursing education contact hours offered through AACN.

"Ensuring safe care of critically ill patients receiving high-alert drugs has long been a challenge," said Cindy Tryniszewski, RN, MSN, executive director of clinical e-learning at Elsevier | MC Strategies.

"Working alongside AACN and ASHP, we have developed a high-quality product that provides nurses with superior continuing education on how drugs work, why drugs cause adverse effects, and what the implications are for patient care."

For more information, visit AACN's website, http://www.aacn.org.

About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: Founded in 1969 and based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. AACN joins together the interests of more than 500,000 acute and critical care nurses and claims more than 240 chapters worldwide. The organization's vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. To learn more about AACN, visit www.aacn.org, connect with the organization on Facebook at facebook.com/aacnface and follow AACN on Twitter at twitter.com/aacnme.

About Elsevier | MC Strategies

Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., Elsevier | MC Strategies (www.mcstrategies.com) has been providing web-based training and education products and services to the healthcare industry since 1986.  The company is a pioneer in providing eLearning solutions and serves a client base of over 1,300 healthcare organizations nationwide, including integrated health-delivery networks, hospitals, academic institutions and the federal government. It offers a wide range of courses to help nurses meet their clinical and professional education needs and as part of Elsevier Health Sciences, home to some of the world's premier names in healthcare publishing such as Mosby and Saunders, its library continues to grow.

About the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

For more than 60 years, ASHP has helped pharmacists who practice in hospitals and health systems improve medication use and enhance patient safety. The Society's 35,000 members include pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who practice in inpatient, outpatient, home-care, and long-term-care settings, as well as pharmacy students. For more information about the wide array of ASHP activities and the many ways in which pharmacists help people make the best use of medicines, visit ASHP's website, www.ashp.org, or its consumer website, www.SafeMedication.com.

Media Contact:
Kristie Aylett
AACN Communications
[email protected]

This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise™. For more information, visit http://newswise.com.

SOURCE American Association of Critical-Care Nurses