Cardiac Rehab

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Anyone here do Cardiac Rehab????

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Specializes in Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.

Hi Lee1:

I work on a 38 bed cardiopulmonary unit. Our patients are primarily post- CABG or COPD plus assorted other dx such as joint replacement or liver transplant. Anyone who need tele monitoring comes to us. We can accommodate up to 8 but usually have 2 or 3 on cardiac telemetry. We also have "custody" of the facility's defibrillators and are responsible for transporting them to codes.

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I have just relocated to the Boston area and am looking for a cardiac rehab position. I have my BSN, RN and my experience is in A CCU setting... I also have my degree in Exercise physiology and am missing that type of work as well. Anyone know where i might find a cardiac rehab position out there?:confused:

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I've worked on multiple telemetry units for total of about 6 years but I've never done Cardiac Rehab. I have a few questions.

1. How do I get the necessary experience, education. (I have BSN)

2. If I need to take additional classes, does anyone have a recommendation on a good program?

3. What hospitals around the country have the best Cardiac Rehab programs. (I'm free to move anywhere but would prefer the western mountain states).

thanks

Eric

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I used to do inpatient hospital cardiac rehab (amongst other specialties of rehab on a 46 bed unit) approx 1 year ago in NYC.

The facility inserviced us and taught us what we needed to know... (was kinda bare bones though, new heart unit downstairs, and, we were taught with several inservices of the what to expect and what to do variety)

you dont need any special certs, but of course, BLS/ACLS and knowledge of how to do patient transfers is always a plus....(rehab is always a very physical floor) A strong Med-Surg background is always a good thing.

I hope this helps

--Barbara

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Thanks for the reply Barbara.

It sounds as if I could potentially just move to a hospital where there is a job opening for a cardiac rehab nurse and get the job. Any idea as to what hospitals in the nation have the best program

Also, did you like the work?

ERic

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I have been doing cardiac rehab for the last 14 years. Only recently however full time. Prior it was combined with CCU to make my time full time

You need to have a good cardiac solid background. You need to understand what phases exist in cardiac rehab. Phase I is inpatient education generally to post MI/angina/PTCA/Stent/CHF pt about their risk factors. Most of these patients can ambulate on their own and we also go over home walking program with t hem. We also see post OHS patients and are presently being sucked into seeing more of those patients (which I personally disagree is really cardiac rehab but is more PT/OT). The surgical pts we are attempting to help with early ambulation thus shortening LOS. No real education can be done at this point when they are only 4 days postop and being sent home. We do go over briefly exercise walking program they are expected to do at home.

Phase II is a monitored out pt program. This can generally be 5-6 pt at a time you are responsible for----watching a EKG telemtry screen and helping them with their exercises. This can be a great deal of work especially verifying insurances, etc. especially if you do not have a secretary to help with that aspect.

Phase IV are maintenance pts who come to exercise, not monitored, and are self pay. They have previously completed a phase II program and you generally know their cardiac conditions are stable

Anything else would be glad to help with.

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Specializes in Gerontological Nursing, Acute Rehab.

I was looking through the rehab nursing section because I have an interview Monday at a 151 bed rehabilitation hosptial that's affiliated with a large hospital in the area. I applied because I worked Ortho before and really enjoyed the patients and working with the therapies, but my main background is in long term/sub acute care. I would be interviewing for a position on the Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehab unit.......I think this would be something that I could enjoy doing also, but I would like to know if you are dealing with critically ill pts, or are they for the most part stabilized and there for therapy and strengthening. I guess I'd find all this out on Monday, but I'd like to hear from nurses that work the units and not just what the managers have to say. Thanks for any replies, and I'll keep you all posted!!!

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Is this all INPATIENT????

Cardiac/Pulmonary rehab is generally an outpatient program as previously described with some inpt contact.

If this is inpatient then I would assume that the majority of these pts are elderly CHF, possibly post OHS, possibly chronic vents. Is this subacute or chronic rehab also???

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hi again...

Since the unit I used to work on was a 'rehab' (as in all types of rehab) unit... there were some rules to get onto the unit-- basically, you had to be stable-- no need for constant Telemetry (or, they'd be on telemetry) and, they were there for a short while (usually) getting their strength back-- it tended to be the CHF'ers that stayed as their steroids tended to delay the healing. We also got the ones that needed to stay in longer due to problems directly after surgery... IE... Brain injury secondary to CVA(shooting of a clot post open heart surgery...) or, S/P PE was also common...

The patients tended to be stable... but, as with all things, that can (and did on occasion) change really quickly....

After our patients left our unit, they usually continued in an outpatient rehab setting until cleared by md.

I liked the work enough to stay there for 3 years. It was not the work that drove me away per-se (I injured myself while re-positioning a patient who needed a 2 person assist, when the other person 'forgot' to lift with me.) Most of it was management issues that drove me away. ( I could go on about it for pages, but it'd be innapropriate here)

Um.... now, best hospitals in the country, now that, I really cant help you, as I'm based up in the NYC Area, but, due to the shortage, alot of hospitals are looking, and a good portion of them are willing to train you as necessary...

good luck!

--Barbara

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Hello All....

Ok here it goes! I am currently a couple years out of the 1st round of college. While working as an engineer I volunteered a total of 150 hours in several PT settings. This prompted me to take A&P while working. This has opened up a whole new world to me. I have become very interested in nursing, medicine and rehab. I also became pretty interested in cardiac etc during class. Sooooooooo

I was wondering what types of settings you work in, mostly in or out patient?

Also I was wondering how the roles of a Nurse Practitioner vs. Clinical Nurse Specialist would differ in the cardiac rehab world. Thank you for any info!

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Lee1,

wow 14 yrs experience, what would you suggest I study first as a new cardiac rehab RN. Everything in this position is very interesting for me I don't know where to start and whats most important.

Looking forward to your advice.

Lilly57

I have been doing cardiac rehab for the last 14 years. Only recently however full time. Prior it was combined with CCU to make my time full time

You need to have a good cardiac solid background. You need to understand what phases exist in cardiac rehab. Phase I is inpatient education generally to post MI/angina/PTCA/Stent/CHF pt about their risk factors. Most of these patients can ambulate on their own and we also go over home walking program with t hem. We also see post OHS patients and are presently being sucked into seeing more of those patients (which I personally disagree is really cardiac rehab but is more PT/OT). The surgical pts we are attempting to help with early ambulation thus shortening LOS. No real education can be done at this point when they are only 4 days postop and being sent home. We do go over briefly exercise walking program they are expected to do at home.

Phase II is a monitored out pt program. This can generally be 5-6 pt at a time you are responsible for----watching a EKG telemtry screen and helping them with their exercises. This can be a great deal of work especially verifying insurances, etc. especially if you do not have a secretary to help with that aspect.

Phase IV are maintenance pts who come to exercise, not monitored, and are self pay. They have previously completed a phase II program and you generally know their cardiac conditions are stable

Anything else would be glad to help with.

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