EAPCI Nurses and Allied Professionals (NAP) Activities

Background

The EAPCI Nurses and Allied Professionals (NAPs) Committee was established in 2014, dedicated to European nurses and allied professionals in the field of interventional cardiology. The objectives of the committee were to increase the professional profile, to promote networking and to share knowledge among European NAPs.

The Curriculum for NAPs in the Cardiac Catheterisation Lab

Interventional cardiology has complex procedures being performed daily therefore the demand for up-to-date staff requires education. The patient population is aging and has multiple comorbidities, all leading to the need of a higher level of expertise for all staff members. One of the major challenges for the NAP Committee is to address the need for a homogenous education platform. All European countries have different legislation for the scope of practice for NAPs, and different education systems and level of education. For this, a curriculum, was developed and published in 2016.

Read the article about the curriculum

Download the curriculum

Download the clinical competencies Matrix logbook

The Certification Exam

The first EAPCI NAP European Certification exam for professionals working in interventional cardiology was held in 2019.

EAPCI Certification is not a compulsory nor regulatory certificate of competence or excellence. Individuals' rights to report and sign clinical studies in each country remain to be defined by national laws and regulations.

Certification in interventional cardiology:

• reflects credibility and professional legitimacy, demonstrating NAP's competencies and skills.
• identifies qualified practitioners in interventional cardiology and enhances their professional image.

Read testimonies from the candidates who have passed the exam. 

No exam is planned in 2023. The EAPCI NAP Committee is actively working on the launch of an online programme for NAPs who work in the cath lab, in alignment with the Core Curriculum for NAPs in the Cardiac Catheterisation Lab. More information will be available soon.