Cardiac Rehab

lee1 · Sep 17, 2003

Yes, I do Cardiac Rehab, what do you want to know? BTW, who is in charge of yours???? A nurse???

gwenith, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2003

We do hospital or inpatient phase 1 rehab. and are looking to start phase 2.

lee1 · Sep 17, 2003

We do phase I, II, IV (maintenance) Our hospital is high acuity doing open heart surgery, heart transplant, etc.

Who is in charge of your cardiac rehab? A nurse or an exercise physiologist-------exercise science degree plus master's degree, but NO nursing experience. Just asking as we are now in the throes of being told that our exercise physiologist is our supervisor-------1 full time RN and 2 part time RNS plus 1 consistent perdiem RN and 1 secretary. The Director of the department is however a RN but inherited this department and has no cardiac expertise.

Elspeth · Sep 17, 2003

HI, thanks for the responses....since I 1st posted I've started work and have been there 2 wks and I love it . It's a small program (small rural hospital) with Phase 2 and Phase 3 patients. The director of the whole wellness center which cardiac rehab operates out of is RN, MSN and works with me 1 day/wk. the other 2 days i work with an exercise physiologist who is excellent. I'm so glad reading the monitors is coming back so fast and i get to take ACLS in a few wks. yeah(!!) I REALLY like this job!!:roll

lee1 · Oct 2, 2003

Hi Elspeth, what state are you located in?

I am glad you like cardiac rehab so far. Believe me that you will NOT want to go back into floor nursing after doing this job as it IS the easiest job available at least at my hospital which is very high acuity. Now, I have been doing cardiac critical care in either surgery or CCU for the last 30 some years so I guess I can really tell you this.

Cardiac Rehab is new for me at least from a full time position. Can you ask your RN Director if she knows who carries the responsiblity for patients in your Cardiac Rehab? At least from a legal point of view? Is it the person with the license???? RN versus BS or MS degreed exercise physiologist?

Also do you separate your phase II and phase IV patients? What is your pt/ratio in your outpatient department???

Thanks,

Lee RN

gwenith, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2003

Can anyone share what videos and resources you use in patient teaching?

Elspeth · Oct 2, 2003

Hi Lee1, great questions. Wow...well I am (naively) assuming that it would be my tail on the line as for who is responsible since I am the lone RN , 2 out of 3 days. The other day it is me and the director (RN, MSN)together. But I will ask.

No, we don't separate phase II and III pts and this has been confusing for me since I am new and trying to remember what everyone needs when (strips, bps, fsbs, etc)and I can't always remember who is what phase altho since it is a small program I have learned most of the pts pretty quickly. Our max ratio would be 4 phase IIs each and there are always at least 2 ACLS certified staff present at all times. The phase 3s are only put on telemetry once a month unless there's a problem.

Knowing almost next to nothing about Cardiac Rehab programs I think I'm safe in saying ours is very small which I like b/c it's a great environment for teaching.

[email protected] · Jun 20, 2004

I saw where you replied to someones question and you seemed like you were familiar with cardiac rehab. I live in a small town that does not have cardiac rehab. I think it is vital to our community, but how does one RN get the ball rolling to get cardiac rehab started? I talked to the administrator of our hospital and he would like for me to do the homework on getting it started, but where? We now have one cardiologist in town and he expressed an interest in cardiac rehab, but was like the administrator, wanting me to do the homework. Our hospital does have a rehab center, but just for physical fitness. So, we have the facility, just not a specific area for cardiac. I open for suggestions on where to start. I would appreciate advice. Thank you.

lee1 · Jul 4, 2004

I saw where you replied to someones question and you seemed like you were familiar with cardiac rehab. I live in a small town that does not have cardiac rehab. I think it is vital to our community, but how does one RN get the ball rolling to get cardiac rehab started? I talked to the administrator of our hospital and he would like for me to do the homework on getting it started, but where? We now have one cardiologist in town and he expressed an interest in cardiac rehab, but was like the administrator, wanting me to do the homework. Our hospital does have a rehab center, but just for physical fitness. So, we have the facility, just not a specific area for cardiac. I open for suggestions on where to start. I would appreciate advice. Thank you.

http://www.aacvpr.org/

Go to the above site as it is the national organization for Cardiac/Pulmonary rehab. There are books you can order and you can probably find a great deal of info on this site.

Depending on the OIG of you state there is now a problem with Medicare patients in that they need a cardiologist in attendance or close by while the rehab is running.

Other than that you also need a dedicated space for your patients, some equipment to start out to use-----at least something for warmups, like a stationary bike or a bike that does arms/legs, treadmill, rowing ergometer, elipitcal if you can get it. Some free weights.

And of course a telemetry monitor system that can monitor at least 4-6 patients to begin with as the phase II which is monitored is the best. reimbursed.

lee1 · Jul 4, 2004

I saw where you replied to someones question and you seemed like you were familiar with cardiac rehab. I live in a small town that does not have cardiac rehab. I think it is vital to our community, but how does one RN get the ball rolling to get cardiac rehab started? I talked to the administrator of our hospital and he would like for me to do the homework on getting it started, but where? We now have one cardiologist in town and he expressed an interest in cardiac rehab, but was like the administrator, wanting me to do the homework. Our hospital does have a rehab center, but just for physical fitness. So, we have the facility, just not a specific area for cardiac. I open for suggestions on where to start. I would appreciate advice. Thank you.

http://www.aacvpr.org/

Go to the above site as it is the national organization for Cardiac/Pulmonary rehab. There are books you can order and you can probably find a great deal of info on this site.

Depending on the OIG of you state there is now a problem with Medicare patients in that they need a cardiologist in attendance or close by while the rehab is running.

Other than that you also need a dedicated space for your patients, some equipment to start out to use-----at least something for warmups, like a stationary bike or a bike that does arms/legs, treadmill, rowing ergometer, elipitcal if you can get it. Some free weights.

And of course a telemetry monitor system that can monitor at least 4-6 patients to begin with as the phase II which is monitored is the best. reimbursed.

wellnessrn · Feb 2, 2006

I've worked in Cardiac Rehab for about 1 1/2 years now. I am an RN, and work alone. I have up to 5 monitored patients at a time. I worked in ICU for 15 years, so that experience really helps! I do feel somewhat "incompetent" in the exercise teaching at times. We do weight training, etc, and I would love to get more training! I'm considering the Exercise Specialist certification through ACSM- has anyone done this? What all is involved? I LOVE my job, by the way! I do Cardiac Rehab M-W-F, and stress testing Tues and Thurs. A couple of days a month, I get to work in ICU, to keep up on the acute stuff. The hours are great! (7-3:30, Mon-Fri). Many of my former patients come back to visit, bring me treats, etc. It's great to watch them get better.