PROFILE: ASSOCIATE MEMBER - Promoting a heart-healthy lifestyle

Promoting a heart-healthy lifestyle for patients, their family members and the public is what cardiovascular nursing is all about. The voice for cardiovascular nursing is the Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nurses (CCCN). CCCN is associated with the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and is a sister organization to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

Certification in cardiovascular nursing has been offered since 2001 through the CNA certification program. To date, nearly 800 Canadian nurses have earned their certification credential in this specialty. CCCN maintains the cardiovascular nursing standards, which contribute to the ongoing development of the CNA cardiovascular certification exam.

CCCN members participate in a variety of health promotion and advocacy initiatives. For example, they have worked with Blood Pressure Canada to develop a national sodium policy statement and with the Canadian Hypertension Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation to develop blood pressure guidelines.

CCCN publishes the Canadian Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, a quarterly peer-reviewed journal. Cardiovascular nursing research is supported through research grants, and profiled by way of a research excellence recognition award as well as CCCN’s annual conference and scientific sessions, held in conjunction with the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress. The next congress is planned for Oct. 23-27, in Montreal.

Provincial/territorial chapters of CCCN advance cardiovascular nursing through events such as education sessions and workshops, tailored to reflect evidence-based practice, research initiatives, the promotion of continuing competence and member requests.

Winnipeg is the location for CCCN’s inaugural spring nursing conference, to be held on April 30.

Canadian nurses with an interest in heart health are invited to join CCCN. For more information, visit www.cccn.ca.