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Train for the ICU—perform at your peak
AACN's critical care programs—available through HealthStream—equip ICU and progressive care nurses to recognize subtle changes, act decisively, and lead care teams with clinical confidence.
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Virtual simulations & decision-based exercises
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Backed by thousands of critical care nurses nationwide
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Aligned to AACN’s Synergy Model for Patient Care
Elevate critical care with courses from the world's largest specialty nursing organization
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) offers industry-leading clinical education for nurses in acute, progressive, and critical care—spanning direct care nurses to advanced practice nurses, educators, and managers. Award-winning and evidence-based, AACN’s content is developed and validated by hundreds of nursing experts to help teams deliver competent, confident, and high-quality care. All courses align with current regulatory standards.
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Confidence in every code, rhythm, & shift
Support nurses with the skills and judgment to perform in high-acuity care—from onboarding to board certification.
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Stronger ICU Teams
ECCO's immersive, scenario-based learning prepares nurses to think critically in unpredictable, high-risk situations
Master Rhythm Interpretation
Interactive ECG training sharpens pattern detection so nurses can respond quickly and accurately in cardiac events
Certification-Ready Knowledge
Content aligned with the most current certification test plans, helping nurses to confidently prepare for their exam
ECMO Skill Development
Give nurses advanced understanding of ECMO procedures so they're prepared for rare but high-risk patient scenarios
Unit-Level Leadership
Flexible, microlearning courses help charge nurses and managers lead daily decisions and improve unit performance
Better Onboarding Support
Preceptor programs train experienced nurses to coach with purpose—improving retention and reducing inconsistency.
Built by critical care experts, for critical care practice
From first shift to final exam, every course is authored by AACN and designed to meet the real demands of critical bedside care.
ECCO modules mirror what happens in the unit—helping nurses develop clinical judgment where it matters most.
Programs for new ICU nurses, preceptors, ECMO support, and nurse leaders—mapped to real role demands.
Content reflects current guidelines from AACN, CCRN, and more—so nurses are always practicing to standard.
Award credit for existing knowledge with easy-to-use assessments, allowing you to reduce seat time, identify knowledge gaps, and accelerate time to productivity.
Built by critical care experts, for critical care practice
Advance your practice with evidence-based courses backed by hundreds of nurse experts.
The AACN KAT helps nurse educators identify knowledge gaps in new or transitioning ICU and PCU nurses. This digital assessment supports the creation of personalized orientation plans, enabling targeted learning that builds clinical confidence and readiness.
Essentials of Critical Care Orientation (ECCO)
Who it’s for: Nurses transitioning into ICU or PCU roles who need a structured, self-paced foundation in critical care.
- Customize by role: ICU and PCU tracks available
- Learn through real-world scenarios and simulations
- Aligned to national standards for safe, confident practice
Essentials of ECG & Dysrhythmia Monitoring
Who it’s for: Nurses in any care setting who monitor ECG rhythms—critical care, ED, PACU, med-surg, and more.
- Strengthen rhythm strip interpretation with real case scenarios
- Identify ischemia, infarction, and pacemaker issues
- Build confidence in responding to cardiac events
Fundamental Skills for Nurse Managers
Who it’s for: New or aspiring nurse managers seeking practical leadership foundations.
- Build change-readiness and emotional intelligence
- Manage staffing, budgeting, and unit performance
- Earn CE as you go with modular, self-paced design
Fundamental Skills for Preceptors
Who it’s for: Nurses preparing to onboard and mentor new staff with confidence.
- Equip yourself to guide safe transitions to independent practice
- Learn best practices in communication and coaching
- Strengthen onboarding outcomes across roles
Certification Review Courses
Who it’s for: Nurses preparing for acute, critical, and progressive care certification exams.
- Review course content aligned with the latest test plans
- Strengthen knowledge across systems and ethics
- Practice test-taking with confidence-building tools
The ECMO Course
Who it’s for: Clinicians caring for patients on advanced life support due to respiratory or cardiac failure.
- Learn the clinical foundations of ECMO safely and effectively
- Understand indications like ARDS, trauma, and cardiogenic shock
- Developed with the ECMO Institute for critical care specialists
For the ones behind critical decisions
Created for those managing life-and-death decisions, mentoring new staff, or preparing for board exams.
Nurse Leaders
Develops staff, supports retention, elevates care quality.
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Director of Education
Streamlines training, boosts engagement, ensures compliance fast.
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Nurse Managers
Simplifies scheduling, supports growth, strengthens team performance.
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Nurse Professionals
Advance career, earn credits, learn anytime, anywhere.
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From readiness to mastery–to beyond
Increase your impact
Experience compounding benefits with additional tailored solutions.
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AACN Content—powered by hStream
Bring it all together with seamless access to the largest healthcare content marketplace, exclusive applications, specialized tools, and significant subscriber discounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What products from AACN are available through HealthStream?
HealthStream offers exclusive access to a suite of AACN courses, including:
- Essentials of Critical Care Orientation (ECCO)
- Essentials of ECG and Dysrhythmia Monitoring
- The ECMO Course
- Certification Review Courses
- Fundamental Skills for Nurse Managers (FSNM)
- Fundamental Skills for Preceptors (FSP)
All are designed to advance critical care competency across roles.
Who should use AACN courses?
These programs are designed for acute, progressive, and critical care nurses, as well as preceptors and nurse managers, and are ideal for hospitals aiming to improve clinical performance, consistency, and retention in high-acuity settings. Additional programs are available for nurses preparing for certification exams.
How is ECCO different from other onboarding programs?
ECCO is scenario-based and written by AACN clinical experts. It's not just content—it's critical thinking training. ECCO mirrors ICU/PCU challenges, accelerates readiness, and supports retention.
How many CE hours do the AACN courses provide?
Here are a few highlights:
- ECCO Course: Up to 75.45 ICU and 67.72 PCU contact hours
- ECG Course: Up to 14.25 contact hours
- ECMO Course: Up to 8 Nursing and up to 10 Perfusionists and RT contact hours
- FSNM Course: Up to 14 contact hours
- FSP Course: Up to 6.75 contact hours
Each course meets rigorous accreditation and CE standards.
Can these courses be customized or integrated into our existing training platform?
Yes. AACN programs can be delivered via HealthStream's LMS or configured with your existing system. Flexible, role-based assignments make integration and rollout simple—even for large health systems.
Get access to additional insights & resources
Revolutionize the standard of care in severe heart and lung failure with The ECMO Course
In the ever-evolving landscape of critical care, the skillful implementation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) represents the pinnacle of innovative patient care. As traditional treatment boundaries expand, clinicians must equip themselves with forward-thinking knowledge and skills.
Trends in Onboarding and Orientation – Solutions to Make it Safe and Efficient
During this 30-minute webinar, AACN’s Clinical Practice Specialist, Julie Miller, will share the latest trends and explore solutions that can help optimize the onboarding and orientation experience for your new and transitioning nurses without sacrificing quality.
Advance critical care skills with confidence
Support acute, progressive and critical care nurses to perform under pressure with AACN-endorsed training that builds clinical judgment, rhythm recognition, and leadership skills—all aligned to real-world demands.
- Interactive, evidence-based and virtual patient simulation content that empowers learners
- Content built to meet the needs of clinical and professional development of nurses
- CCRN-aligned prep builds board-ready knowledge
- Flexible, self-paced delivery fits shift-based schedules
- Developed by AACN in collaboration with nationally known subject matter experts