By Jane Nelson Worel RN, MS, ANP-BC, FAHA (Clinical Education, Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association)
Helping patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation (NVAF) involves implementing guidelines-based strategies to effectively balance the reduced risk of deadly or debilitating strokes with the risk of bleeding—along with factors such as patient age and overall health. To help clinicians navigate the challenges faced by patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)—the most common arrhythmia seen in clinical practice—the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA) has developed a trio of educational and reference tools for providers that will increase knowledge and directly impact clinical practice.
Watch this Afib Video from PCNA and Heart Rhythm Society
The growing, global public health epidemic of Atrial Fibrillation requires effective diagnosis and treatment. The educational video, Stroke Prevention in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation, covers:
- Stroke and bleeding risk assessments in patients with AFib
- Prescribing indications, dosing and schedules for non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and warfarin
- Shared decision-making
- Case-based studies for safe and effective strategies to start, stop, pause and bridge anticoagulant therapy.
This webinar features Eileen Handberg, PhD, ARNP-BC, FACC, and Kelly Rudd, PharmD, BCPS, CACP.
To view this video, please click here.
Prevent Stroke-Related Afib with This Clinical Pocket Guide
PCNA’s clinical pocket card, Preventing Stroke in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation, highlights top-line recommendations from the 2019 ACC/AHA/HRS Atrial Fibrillation Guidelines as they related to risk assessment and effective anticoagulation to prevent stroke.
Digital and print versions are available at pcna.net/clinical-resources/provider-tools/atrial-fibrillation-provider-tools/.
Use These Digital Guidelines for Stroke Prevention
Designed with busy clinicians in mind, this digital resource helps providers understand how to help their patients avoid becoming one of the 800,000 individuals each year in the U.S. to develop a stroke. The National Guidelines and Tools for Stroke Prevention: A Guide for Nurses is available digitally for your desktop, laptop, tablet or phone by clicking here.
Other Afib Clinical resources can be found at pcna.net/clinical-resources/provider-tools/stroke-prevention-guide/.
This campaign is supported by funding from Bristol Myers-Squibb/Pfizer. For more information, please go to at pcna.net.
Jane Nelson Worel RN, MS, ANP-BC, FAHA, is an Adult Nurse Practitioner and currently serves as the Clinical Education Director for the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA). Jane was a longtime member of the PCNA Board of Directors and is a past President of the organization. Prior to joining a staff role at PCNA, Jane’s work experience included advanced practice nursing roles in cardiac rehabilitation, preventive cardiology, internal medicine and women’s health. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison with both MS and BS degrees in Nursing and an MS in Clinical Exercise Physiology. She has been recognized as a Fellow of the American Heart Association and has served as the co-editor of the Progress in Prevention column of the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing.