CNA in the Cardiac Unit

adorblepuppy · Mar 29, 2009

I don't have any. Just wanted to say good luck. Sounds like a nice job.

elite · Mar 29, 2009

Working on a cardiac unit isn't much different than any other unit is a hospital (unless it is post cardiac surgery).

Here are a couple of very important hints; 1)Always make sure your I&Os are up to date, accurate and daily weights are done. This is most important for the CHF patients if not all cardiac patients. The MDs will be looking at this for fluid retention. You and the RN want to make sure that the intake isn't more that the output. This is probably the #1 complaint from MDs - I&Os not being accurate. 2) make sure you check with the RN before you remove the tele monitor off of the patient. Don't be afraid of the monitors! They are just another tool to help you take care of your patient. 3) some MDs are big on letting there patients sleep at night. Sometimes you might want to check with the RN to coordinate your care (ex: she gives the meds and you check the BP at the same time) go into the patient together so you don't disturb the patient as much.

A lot of CNAs are more nervous about going onto a cardiac unit than a reg med-surg unit. Just think, if you are taking care of a cardiac patient, they are monitored - you will know if there is something wrong (cardiac related). All the bell and whistles will go off. If you are on a med-surg floor taking care of a post appy patient usually the only equipment you have the patient on is the auto BP cuff (every 15 min). That's not going to tell you that something is wrong (only after 15 min when the BP cuff goes off and the BP is either high or low). I'm more nervous on a med-surg floor where there aren't any monitors to tell me what's going on!!!

There is a lot to learn but is is one of the best units I've ever worked on!:redbeathe

Good luck!

MissTee333 · Oct 27, 2010

elite, I am a CNA starting a new job on the cardiac floor, scared to death, but after reading what you said about have the monitors verses not having them put my heart at ease. Thanks for the information on the I&Os too. I just did a search on yahoo, and this website came up with your advice. So I joined the web site.