Any Cardio-pulmonary rehab RNs here?

Rooskenator · Feb 6, 2011

I'm a Clinical Exercise Phys in Cardiac Rehab & applying to RN school, so don't know if that qualifies, but the answers to your questions as what I see the RNs do in Cardiac Rehab are:

1. Monitors and assesses pt condition prior to exercise (resting HR, BP, O2 sat, sugar if diabetic), several times of each during different exercises, watch ECG monitor during exercise to chk for cardiac events that may occur during exercise, afterward they cool down in a check out area and then have same vitals assessed one last time before leaving. RNs also do evals on new pts- health history, go over with them what they just got discharged for & what rehab will do i.e. how exercise will help prevent another MI, bypass or whatever they are there for, pt education as far as how to improve their eating habits... basically the steps that need to be taken to prevent another cardiac event. Usually only an RN or an Ex Phys with a Master's is the one to watch the ECG & a lot of the time there are 2 ppl on it. Encourage people and try to create a positive environment for pts.

2. Draw-backs: Co pays & out of pockets can be VERY high for pts with certain insurance plans. Many pts & their spouses are very reluctant to start b/c "I have no energy- how can I possibly work out??" which usually turns into a positive b/c they gain SO MUCH energy and confidence in such a short time. Usually they put up a pretty good fight to start with and then can't get enough of coming.

Benefits: Obviously, the health benefits are immense. Many pts come off of several of the cardiac meds they are taking (not all, but a lot of them go from taking 10-15 meds a day down to just a few), decreased Angina, more energy, a great socialization opportunity for a population of people who don't always get to get out of the house, lower BP, improved cholesterol ratio (exercise actually increases HDL, which reverses atherosclerotic plaque to a certain extent), we have a great PT education program that educates them on everything from what a CABG is to great heart healthy recipes.

3. Inpatient cardiac rehab is pretty much immediately following their surgery (within 24 hrs or so), an RN comes to the hospital room and has them participate in simple exercises from the get-go. Outpatient starts within a few days of discharge and is completed in phases. Phase 1, phase 2, etc... just a certain number of weeks that they are in the program, varies for different facilities and what insurance companies cover.

I know that was kinda rambly. If you have any other questions, feel free to message me and I will try to answer them! GL!