This course is designed to prepare nurses to care for patients with a Datascope intra-aortic balloon pump. Participants should have experience with hemodynamic monitoring.

Nurses are welcome to attend a class at any location. IABC Basics concepts are the same at all locations, although pumps may differ slightly.

 Upon completion of this class, the participant will be able to: 

• Correlate the anatomy and physiology associated with the cardiac cycle to an arterial pressure waveform 
• Define two physiological effects achieved by the mechanics of inflation and deflation of the IABP
• Delineate major complications associated with IABP therapy
• Demonstrate proper set up of the Datascope IABP and initiation of pumping
• Describe the nursing care for patients requiring IABP support
• Discuss the consequences of improper IABP timing
• Identify four indications and three contraindications for IABP therapy
• Troubleshoot commonly encountered alarm/trigger/timing conditions for the Datascope IABP