Nurses become internationally certified in PCI

Nurses Mats Nygren and Annika Adgård work as operating nurses at Coronary Catheterization Laboratory in Lund (PCI-lab), where patients from the entire Southern Healthcare Region in Sweden are cared for with various treatments – around the clock, all year round.

“Becoming certified is very satisfying. The certification is evidence that our competence is of high international quality”, says Annika Adgård.
“The certification is also a way to learn more and develop professionally”, says Mats Nygren.

Nurses now able to apply

Previously, only physicians could become certified in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. For the first time this year, nurses can also apply. The exam was held in Paris during the annual Heart Congress, EuroPCR.
“We studied a lot, maybe ten hours a week before the exam. But above all, we were also extra attentive during work to learn more about the method”, says Annika Adgård.

She and Mats Nygren have already noticed that the new knowledge makes a difference when caring for patients.

“Among other things, we have become better at prioritising patients who need our care. In the past, we often needed to consult a physician. Now we can do it ourselves. And that means that patients get the treatment they need faster”, says Mats Nygren.

More nurses to become certified

Going forward, the plan is to give two nurses at Skåne University Hospital the opportunity to become certified every two years.

The certification is awarded by the European Association of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (EAPCI-NAP), where the chief nurse at Skåne University Hospital, David Sparv, is a driving force. He is also one of the initiators of the certification.

“I am very proud that two nurses at Skåne University Hospital have been certified. I myself have previously worked as a nurse at the Coronary Catheterization Laboratory (PCI-lab) in Lund and I know how important it is to be able to develop, no matter where you work”, says David Sparv.