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CSC Exam Preparation

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CSC Preparation and Resources

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) provides a list of recommended references to aid candidates preparing for the CSC exam. These references include essential textbooks and resources focusing on post-operative care for cardiac surgery patients.

BoardCerts integrates these recommended references and the CSC exam blueprint into its question banks, ensuring that the practice materials are accurate, relevant, and aligned with the key competencies required for success in cardiac surgery nursing.

Key Concepts on CSC Exam

Exam Categories: Percentage Distribution

Area of FocusSubtopicsPercent of Exam

Procedures

  • Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass
  • Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) without cardiopulmonary bypass
  • Cox maze and modified maze procedure
  • Minimally invasive cardiac surgery
  • Pericardial window
  • Repair of non-congenital heart defects (e.g., left-ventricular aneurysm, VSD post MI)
  • Surgical valve repair or replacement
  • Transcatheter valve replacement (e.g., TAVR)
  • Endovascular repair of the aorta
  • Open repair of thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection

11%

Complications

  • Cardiogenic shock
  • Hypotension and hypertension
  • Hypovolemia and hypervolemia
  • Bleeding
  • Myocardial infarction
  • Myocardial stunning
  • Open chest from the operating room
  • Pericarditis
  • Dysrhythmias
  • Right heart failure
  • Cardiac tamponade
  • Vascular complications (e.g., compartment syndrome, retroperitoneal bleeding)
  • Acute respiratory failure
  • Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
  • Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI)
  • Transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO)
  • Pleural space abnormalities (e.g., pneumothorax)
  • Air-leak syndromes (e.g., pneumopericardium, pneumomediastinum)
  • Aspiration
  • Atelectasis
  • Pleural effusion
  • Prolonged mechanical ventilation
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
  • Protamine reactions
  • Coagulopathies
  • Anemia
  • Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
  • Postoperative impaired cognition
  • Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
  • Lower limb deficits (e.g., spinal cord ischemia, paralysis)
  • Delirium
  • Ischemic bowel
  • Acute kidney injury
  • Electrolyte imbalances
  • Multisystem organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS)
  • Chronic pain
  • Acute pain
  • Acid-base imbalances
  • Malignant hyperthermia
  • Preexisting behavioral health disorder (e.g., anxiety, PTSD)
  • Substance use and withdrawal

33%

Therapeutic Interventions

  • Fluid volume management specific to cardiac surgery
  • Defibrillation and cardioversion
  • Emergent resternotomy
  • Cardiac surgery advanced life support (CALS)
  • Temporary pacing
  • Intra-aortic balloon pump
  • Short-term ventricular assist devices (VADs)
  • Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
  • Pericardial and mediastinal drain
  • Pleural chest tubes and drains
  • Invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation
  • Oxygen therapy delivery devices
  • Platelet inhibitors
  • Thrombolytics
  • Anticoagulants
  • Vasoactive agents
  • Antidysrhythmics
  • Inotropes
  • Diuretics
  • Beta-blockers
  • Statins
  • Pharmacologic agents for controlling bleeding (e.g., desmopressin acetate, factor VII, antifibrinolytics)
  • Pulmonary vasodilators
  • Sedation
  • Neuromuscular blockade
  • Glycemic control
  • Blood and blood products
  • Lumbar drain
  • Pain management
  • Renal replacement therapy (e.g., hemodialysis, CRRT)
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis
  • Early mobility protocols
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) prophylaxis
  • Surgical site protocols
  • Recovery from anesthesia
  • Rewarming from hypothermia
  • Pneumonia prevention

43%

Monitoring and Diagnostics

  • Hemodynamic monitoring
  • Echocardiography
  • Electrocardiography (ECG)
  • Laboratory testing
  • Arterial blood gas (ABG)
  • Mixed venous gas
  • Pulse oximetry
  • Capnography
  • Radiography
  • Bispectral index monitoring (BIS)
  • Cerebral oximetry monitoring
  • Train-of-four (TOF)

13%

Reference: AACN CSC Handbook

CSC Resources

The BoardCerts CSC question bank is expertly crafted to align with the official exam blueprint, helping each individual concentrate on the most relevant topics for success.

The candidate handbook lists the following resources to assist with exam preparation:

  • CSC Certification Practice Exam and Questions, AACN
  • AACN Essentials of Critical Care Nursing, McGraw Hill
  • AACN Procedure Manual for Progressive and Critical Care, ‎Elsevier
  • The Cardiac Catheterization Handbook, Elsevier

In addition, the exam candidate handbook lists the following resources as references used for exam validation:

  • 2020 Guidelines Update for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care, American Heart Association
  • Introduction to Basic Cardiac Dysrhythmias, Jones & Bartlett
  • Pathophysiology, Saunders/Elsevier
  • Manual of Perioperative Care in Adult Cardiac Surgery, Wiley-Blackwell
  • Acute and Chronic Wounds, Mosby/Elsevier
  • American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Essentials of Critical-Care Nursing, McGraw-Hill
  • Vascular Medicine: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease: Expert Consult, Elsevier
  • Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2020, Elsevier
  • Gahart's Intravenous Medications, Elsevier
  • 12-Lead EKG Confidence: A Step-By-Step Guide, Springer
  • Cardiac Surgery Essentials of Critical Care Nursing, Jones & Bartlett
  • The Clinical Practice of Neurological and Neurosurgical Nursing, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
  • Cardiovascular Nursing Practice, Cardiovascular Nursing Education Associates
  • The 4 Stages of Heart Failure, Cardiotext
  • Saunders Nursing Drug Handbook, Saunders/Elsevier
  • Hemodynamic Monitoring: Evolving Technologies and Clinical Practice, Mosby/Elsevier
  • Mosby’s Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference, Mosby/Elsevier
  • Introduction to Critical Care Nursing, Elsevier
  • Kern's Cardiac Catheterization Handbook, Elsevier
  • Critical Care Nursing: Diagnosis and Management, Elsevier
  • AACN Procedure Manual for High Acuity, Progressive, and Critical Care, Saunders/Elsevier
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