http://allnurses.com Cardiac nursing deals with individuals who have heart-related problems such as angina, disturbances in cardiac rhythm, congestive heart failure, etc. Nurses deal with the pathophysiology, management and prevention of heart diseases, as well as procedures, surgeries, interventions, complementary/alternative medicine, and diagnostic testing in a variety of areas such as ICU, CCU, Cardiac Cath labs, Cardiac Rehab, and Cardiac research. en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:04:32 GMT vBulletin 60 http://img.an-file.info/misc/rss.jpg http://allnurses.com http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/any-ep-lab-440029-new.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:43:48 GMT I see we have a few Cath/EP nurses here. I was wondering if we had any Primary EP nurses? I see we have a few Cath/EP nurses here. I was wondering if we had any Primary EP nurses? ]]> Cardiac Nursing pghfoxfan http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/any-ep-lab-440029.html http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/need-advice-new-439226-new.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:52:35 GMT I had 2 interviews for a position on a cardiac surgery floor. I asked a lot of the general... I had 2 interviews for a position on a cardiac surgery floor. I asked a lot of the general questions during my interview such as orientation period, unit ratios, etc. Now I am going to the floor to shadow for 2 hours to see if it is a "fit " for me. The dept. director said to make sure to ask a lot of questions while shadowing. Can anyone give me suggestions of questions to make sure to ask so that I can get a good feel of the unit and the hospital? The hospital is out of state, and it sounds like I might have an offer if I like the unit. Need advice! Thanks! ]]> Cardiac Nursing lharvey810 http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/need-advice-new-439226.html http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/am-i-missing-438573-new.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:52:49 GMT Hey cardiac nurses-
I posted this over in ER, but would like your take on it. I don't know if it is a faux pas to double post, but:

Two recent incidents make me question some stuff.

1. A friend who is a new grad being oriented into the ICU of a cardiac center seems to be given bad information. She uses a 5 electrode system, and believes the the brown electrode is a ground, and can be put anywhere on the chest. I explained that the brown electrode is more likely a v lead, and can be placed in a number of positions, the most common being v1-v6. I explained a couple of reasons one might want to choose where to monitor. She seems a little skeptical, as she is being precepted by one of the more experienced nurses there, and what I explained to her seemed pretty basic.

I have seen this in the ICU, where most of the nurses I worked with, put the brown electrode in a random spot, and only monitored the inferior heart through lead II.

2. Had a pt last night who's primary complaint was respiratory- no chest pain, but multiple risk factors. EKG showed depression in leads v5-6. So- I set the monitor up to monitor lead v6 as the primary lead. Figured I might want to know if any treatment I gave resolved the ischemia. Also figured if there was going to be any elevation, that might be a good place catch it. While I wasn't watching, somebody mpved my brown electrode to the middle of the chest-somewhere between and below v1-v2. (right at shift change I got a positive troponin)

Am I missing something here? This can't be all that complicated, as I am not all that well educated or experienced. It seems rare that I encounter other nurses who know this stuff. Why is that?

Any thoughts?

]]> Cardiac Nursing hherrn http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/am-i-missing-438573.html http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/did-everyone-love-438271-new.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:56:58 GMT Just wondering if everyone started out loving telemetry and knew that's what you wanted to do, or did it take some getting used to? I am a recent grad in May, and because the hospital I worked at paid for my tuition, I am working for them for 1 year to pay it back. Unfortunately, cardiac was NOT my favorite thing in school and that is where they put me to work at. I am really, really trying to learn, and trying to like it, but it just isn't coming to me. I have always had this mental block when it comes to the heart and I stink at reading the monitor strips! So does anyone have any motivational words or has anyone been in this same situation and just eventually learned to love tele?!

Would love to hear from someone that was once in the same boat as me!! ]]> Cardiac Nursing ashemson http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/did-everyone-love-438271.html http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/lvad-cardiac-rehab-438116-new.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:04:19 GMT Does anyone work Cardiac rehab and take LVAD patients at your setting? Do you have any special... Does anyone work Cardiac rehab and take LVAD patients at your setting? Do you have any special policies regarding these patients? Especially regarding Heart Mate II????? ]]> Cardiac Nursing lee1 http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/lvad-cardiac-rehab-438116.html http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/any-advice-new-437646-new.html Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:57:33 GMT Hi Everyone, I am a new grad starting off in the post cardiac surgery unit. Any advice? Thanks. Hi Everyone,

I am a new grad starting off in the post cardiac surgery unit. Any advice? Thanks. ]]> Cardiac Nursing DominiRN09 http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/any-advice-new-437646.html http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/acls-telemetry-intermediate-436772-new.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:42:07 GMT What are your hospital or unit policies or norms for the percentage of ACLS nurses on any given... What are your hospital or unit policies or norms for the percentage of ACLS nurses on any given shift when ACLS is required for your unit.

For example, I manage a 12 bed intermediate care unit. ACLS is required for my nurses. When we have sick calls the float pool nurses that cover the unit do not have ACLS. I'm wondering if there are other units in this same situation and what percentage of non-ACLS trained nurses would be appropriate and safe for patient care?

Thanks! ]]> Cardiac Nursing cardiacnurse9063 http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/acls-telemetry-intermediate-436772.html http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/when-react-abnormal-436532-new.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:16:14 GMT I am a new grad on step down/cardiac unit. Most of our pts are in for AMI, Angina, Stroke, Chest... I am a new grad on step down/cardiac unit. Most of our pts are in for AMI, Angina, Stroke, Chest pains, etc. I know basics, but I finding when it comes to blood pressure, heart rate and rhythms I do not know when I need to call the doctor or observe. One night I had a pt's b/p bounce up and down all night and charge not concerned. I have b/p's in 190s systolic and 100's diastolic[ Pt's who converted to AFib; Heart rates in the 120-140's and charge nurse look me like whats the problem? What am I missing? I need some general guidelines to go by. ]]> Cardiac Nursing alabamagrad http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/when-react-abnormal-436532.html http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/new-grad-cardiac-436382-new.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:48:24 GMT Well, I think I already know the answer to this, but I will ask anyway :-) What do you nurses... Well, I think I already know the answer to this, but I will ask anyway :-) What do you nurses think about a brand new nurse starting out in the cardiac cath lab recovery area??? I have a strong interest in cardiac nursing, and I shadowed in the CCL in nursing school, which I loved. I however did not picture myself starting out in the CCL. I thought I would work in telemetry or cardiovascular stepdown first. I have been having so much trouble getting a new grad job, just like many other 2009 grads. I interviewed and shadowed in a heart failure unit / preoperative heart surgery area, which is very "bedside" nursing, but they have not made a decision yet. The same hospital called me back and told me that they would also like for me to interview and shadow in the cardiac cath lab, as they may have a position available to me in CCL recovery. Experienced nurses, including a recruiter that I know told me that they think that I will have trouble transitioning into any other unit in the future if I start out in the cath lab, because I will not develop a lot of important nursing skills. It is so rare for a new grad to get an offer from the cath lab, but I will work in recovery. I hear that it's hard to get into this particular hospital's CCL because people are very happy there and do not leave, and they have an excellent nurse manager. I know that it will not be easy, but I am up for a challenge. My concern is that I will not be able to go into anything else later on. I have not even shadowed yet, but can I please have your thoughts? Thanks a bunch! ]]> Cardiac Nursing MissBrittanyRN http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/new-grad-cardiac-436382.html http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/ebp-angioplasty-access-435746-new.html Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:25:55 GMT I am a nursing student in an RN-BSN program. I currently work on a telemetry unit and I care for a... I am a nursing student in an RN-BSN program. I currently work on a telemetry unit and I care for a lot of patients who are post angioplasty procedure. So far, all of my patients who have had an angioplasty procedure are accessed through the femoral artery. I know that the radial artery may be used as an access site as well, but I have never seen one performed. There are benefits to using a radial artery: it sits close to the skin, easier to detect and stop post-angioplasty bleeding, and get up and walk faster. I read a report from Harvard Health in which a Canadian study had been performed on people who had radial artery angioplasty. Their results proved that the patients who had radial artery angioplasty less often (1.4%) needed a blood transfusion than patients who had femoral artery angioplasty (2.8%). Also, deaths in the year that followed the procedure were lower from 2.8% in the radial artery group and 3.9% in the femoral artery group.

My question that I would like to ask: For patients undergoing angioplasty, is radial access as effective as femoral access? What have you seen through your practice? Have you seen any studies that prove otherwise?

I would appreciate your response.

Thank you,
Marisol Paz
]]> Cardiac Nursing MarPazRN http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/ebp-angioplasty-access-435746.html http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/new-charge-sooo-435093-new.html Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:42:10 GMT Okay so a few weeks ago I wrote in saying that I wanted to go to transfer from my post surgical... Okay so a few weeks ago I wrote in saying that I wanted to go to transfer from my post surgical floor to CCU. It didn't happen and now I'm fine with that. But somehow or another I got talked into being orenatied to charge. Ahhh!! I was told this will be a good challenge for me and it will cause growth!! I am only one year out of school so that is my experience is just this floor. I am sooo scared!! I will then be responsible for our 18pt floor. I think what makes me more nervous is delegating. They just don't teach you enough on how to do that. I don't want people to walk all over me and I don't want to sound like a drill sarget either. I know for the most part people know what there job is and they do it, but still. I don't know maybe I am looking at it from the wrong prospective. So tonite will be my first nite and me and the assistant nurse manager will be ONE. I think Im also scared because there are other nurses that I work with that have more experience than I do or are older than I am. I think they don't want to do it. I guess I am worried that others are going to look at me and be like "she shouldn't be doing that, or who do she think she is?" I know i shouldn't worry about what people think. I mean we have a great floor and great nurses, but its hard not to think somebodys going to be talking. and yes i know people are going to talk about you no matter what. but anyways these are just things i am thinking about. Just wondering if anyone has an opinion about it or has gone thru the same thing. Thx ]]> Cardiac Nursing niteowlrn29 http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/new-charge-sooo-435093.html http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/patent-ductus-arteriosus-435022-new.html Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:10:35 GMT Soo I am preparing a care plan for a 2 month old who is found to have patent ductus ateriosus. In... Soo I am preparing a care plan for a 2 month old who is found to have patent ductus ateriosus. In our pediatric nursing book all that it has on this defects is a small box so i have resorted to googleing.. and searching frantically in our online university library. There seems to be little.. my two diagnoses are decreased cardiac output r/t altered contractility (unsure if thats correct) and ineffective tissue perfusion r/t congential cardiac anomalies (i like this best). I have identified outcomes.. and some nursing interventions yet am STILL stumped on the assessments prior to the diagnoses. I understand there is a "machinery-like" murmur.. but is that it? I dont believe it can be. Also our professor added a new step into our care plan which is "implementation" right after nursing interventions.. im confused. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! ]]> Cardiac Nursing Kjo596 http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/patent-ductus-arteriosus-435022.html http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/cardiology-clinical-nurse-434388-new.html Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:44:24 GMT HI, I have apply for the cardiac specialist nurse and got interview this coming Thursday i... HI,
I have apply for the cardiac specialist nurse and got interview this coming Thursday

i will have to do a 10 mins short presentation on the following: HOW WILL YOU BRING ''EXCELLENCE TO LIFE'' within the role of cardiology specialist nurse and what impact will this have on patient care and our services.

I am really stuck. Would anyone please help me

many thanks ]]> Cardiac Nursing igaren http://allnurses.com/cardiac-nursing/cardiology-clinical-nurse-434388.html