The Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA) held their 20th Annual Symposium in Atlanta, celebrating 20 years of the event. This year's symposium featured 16 hours of continuing education lectures from globally recognized speakers on best practices in cardiovascular risk reduction and disease management. A new Pharmacology Preconference was also held, covering topics like hypertension management, anticoagulation, and cardiovascular effects of non-cardiac medications. The 3-day event provided presentations, research poster sessions, and networking opportunities for nurses to advance their knowledge in preventing heart disease.

1.
NEWS
RELEASE
Media
Contact:
Joe
Searls
Public
Relations
&
Marketing
Manager
P:
608-­‐442-­‐3448
|
E:
jsearls@pcna.net
For
Immediate
Release
PCNA
Holds
20th
Annual
Symposium
and
First
Pharmacology
Preconference
In
Atlanta
MADISON,
WI
(April
18,
2014)
-­‐
The
Preventive
Cardiovascular
Nurses
Association
(PCNA)
celebrated
the
20th
anniversary
of
its
Annual
Symposium
at
the
Marriott
Marquis
Hotel
in
Atlanta,
April
10-­‐12,
2014.
The
Annual
Symposium
is
PCNA’s
largest
event
of
the
year,
featuring
16
hours
of
Continuing
Education
(CE),
with
lectures
by
globally
recognized
speakers
delivering
the
latest
information
on
best
practices
and
national
guidelines
in
cardiovascular
risk
reduction
and
disease
management.
This
year
a
new
Pharmacology
Preconference
was
added
to
the
event
lineup.
At
the
preconference,
course
director
Joanna
Sikkema
led
the
session
with
a
discussion
on
the
Pharmacologic
Management
of
Hypertension,
as
well
as
a
discussion
on
recent
controversial
recommendations.
She
was
followed
by
Nurse
Practitioner
Janet
Long,
who
provided
a
comprehensive
review
of
anticoagulation
and
up-­‐to-­‐
the-­‐minute
additions
based
on
the
new
atrial
fibrillation
recommendations.
Dr.
Kevin
Sneed
closed
the
session
with
a
lively
discussion
of
the
Unintended
Cardiovascular
Effects
of
Non-­‐Cardiac
Medications.
The
Symposium
itself
was
a
marvelous
success.
Outgoing
PCNA
President
Kathy
Berra
kicked
things
off
with
a
review
of
the
year’s
accomplishments.
Attendees
were
then
treated
to
a
presentation
by
Dr.
Jeffrey
Berger
and
PCNA
board
member
Kim
Newlin.
Other
presenters
throughout
the
conference
included
Dr.
Valentin
Fuster,
Janelle
Gunn,
Nanette
Wenger,
among
others.
Topics
ranged
from
antiplatelet
therapy
to
familial
hypercholesterolemia,
as
well
as
discussions
on
the
benefits
of
increasing
physical
activity
in
older
adults.
Attendees
also
enjoyed
moderated
research
poster
sessions,
an
exhibit
hall,
lobbying
and
advocacy
initiatives
and
networking
opportunities.
“We
are
thrilled
to
celebrate
20
years
of
the
Annual
Symposium,
while
continuing
to
innovate
and
add
new
timely
features
and
topics”
says
PCNA
CEO
Sue
Koob,
MPA.
“Our
attendees
always
have
such
great
energy
and
excitement
about
the
programs
and
events,
and
have
shown
great
excitement
for
this
year’s
expanded
education
opportunities
and
preconference.”
PCNA
has
established
itself
as
the
premier
organization
of
nursing
professionals
dedicated
to
the
prevention
of
cardiac
and
other
vascular
diseases
throughout
the
lifespan.
PCNA’s
mission
includes
developing
and
promoting
nurses
as
leaders
in
this
field
and
supporting
comprehensive
risk
reduction
strategies
for
individuals
and
populations
across
the
lifespan.
PCNA
takes
pride
in
supporting
leadership,
advocacy,
lifelong
learning
and
empowerment
of
the
nursing
community.
To
learn
more
about
PCNA
and
their
continuing
education,
free
nursing
tools,
Annual
Symposium
and
more,
visit
PCNA.net
or
join
them
on
facebook.com/heartnurses
or
twitter
@heartnurses.
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