Nurse Curriculum
In clinical reviewCardiology triage, patient education, protocols, medication/lab workflows, and escalation criteria.
26 modules
In clinical review. These modules are published for learning while our clinical review roster verifies each one. They reflect current guidelines to the best of our work, but treat them as study material — not a substitute for institutional protocol or supervising-provider direction. Spotted something off? Send feedback →
A practical track focused on triage, escalation, and the workflows that keep cardiology patients safe between visits. Clinically meaningful, without the depth of the APP pathophysiology and management track.
Scope Note
This curriculum supports cardiology nursing workflows including triage, patient education, medication/lab workflows, protocol support, and escalation. It does not replace institutional nursing protocols or provider direction.
Cardiology Nursing Foundations
Role of the Cardiology Nurse
Where you fit in the cardiology team — the safety net between the patient and the provider, focused on triage, education, and escalation.
Cardiology Red Flags and Escalation
The cardiac warning signs that mean stop and escalate now — and exactly how to get help fast.
Phone Triage Framework
A repeatable structure for the cardiology triage call: gather the right information, sort urgency safely, and route the patient.
Documentation for Nurse Calls
Capture a triage call so the provider can act on it — concise, complete, and clear about urgency and what you did.
Patient Education and Teach-Back
Make sure the patient actually understood — use plain language and teach-back to confirm, not assume, comprehension.
Core Nurse Skills
Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Assessment
Get an accurate BP and pulse — proper technique, what the numbers mean, and which readings need escalation.
Medication Adherence Review
Find out what patients are actually taking — spot non-adherence, understand why, and route problems to the provider.
Lab Follow-up Basics
Route cardiology labs safely — what’s urgent, what’s routine, and how to make sure nothing is dropped.
Anticoagulation Safety Basics
Keep patients on blood thinners safe — bleeding signs, adherence, interactions, and when to escalate.
Diuretic and Electrolyte Monitoring Basics
Support patients on diuretics — daily weights, volume and electrolyte safety, and what to escalate.
Pre-procedure Instructions
Prepare patients safely for cardiac procedures — NPO, medication holds, and confirming understanding.
Post-procedure Calls
Check on patients after cardiac procedures — access-site and recovery red flags, and what to escalate.
Symptom Triage
Chest Pain Phone Triage
Sort chest-pain calls fast — recognize the can’t-miss emergency pattern and route safely.
Shortness of Breath Triage
Recognize the dyspnea that can’t wait — severity cues, cardiac red flags, and safe routing.
Palpitations Triage
Tell benign palpitations from the dangerous kind — red-flag features and safe routing.
Dizziness / Syncope Triage
Spot high-risk fainting over the phone — the features that mean cardiac until proven otherwise.
Edema / Weight Gain Triage
Catch heart-failure decompensation early — weight trends, swelling, and breathing red flags.
High Blood Pressure Calls
Handle high-BP calls safely — distinguish urgency from emergency and avoid over- and under-reacting.
Low Blood Pressure Calls
Know when low BP is dangerous — symptoms over numbers, medication causes, and safe routing.
Condition Workflows
Heart Failure Nurse Protocol
Run the HF nursing workflow — daily weights, symptom checks, diuretic/lab awareness, and decompensation escalation.
AFib Nurse Protocol
Support AFib patients — rate/symptom checks, anticoagulation adherence, and stroke/bleeding red flags.
Hypertension Nurse Protocol
Run the HTN nursing workflow — home BP review, adherence support, and emergency recognition.
Lipid Lab Routing Workflow
Route lipid results efficiently into the right follow-up pathway — and use the lipid routing tool.
Post-Cath Patient Calls
Follow up after cardiac catheterization — access-site and recovery red flags, meds, and activity.
Device / Wound Concern Calls
Triage pacemaker/ICD site and device concerns — infection signs, device symptoms, and escalation.
Venous Insufficiency Education
Teach compression and skin care for venous disease — adherence, leg care, and when to escalate.