MRMCcathhold

Hi Kyti Thanks for the info. The standard you speak of is one I'm familiar with. What I'm looking for is one specific to cardiac holding pts/post cath lab pts which require sheath removal. I wouldn't trust the fax you would send to get to me and not into my managers hands.

Hi Dinith88. Yes we are open 24/7 until 2nd shift Friday night or the night before the holiday's. 2nd shift either DC's the pts or they are admitted to an inhouse telemetry bed. At one time the IABP's did go to CCU however our CABG pts take priority over their beds therefore our manager feels is ok for us to keep the IABP until a CCU bed opens up. Very dangerous from our point of view when we only have a pump every 2-3 months and not long enough to really get comfortable with them.

Help! I work in a 26 bed cardiac/PTCA holding area. We provide pre and post care to caths, PTCA, stents, invasive and non-invasive cardiac and vascular procedures(ie various angiograms, Fistula declots TEE's,EP studies, Ablations). We also pull all the sheaths. Cath lab may use a Perclose or Vasoseal. We may sometimes admit emergency PTCA/Stent pts. with fresh MI's which may or may not be on IABPs. We are being told that our staff to pt ratio is 5:1. That may change only if the pt is on a balloon pump. The manager is using a PACU standard involving conscious sedation to support her reasoning. Does such a standard exist for the Cardiac Holding area? We need your help! Our staff is suffering because we also do not have equipment to help with our q15" vitals despite frequent pleas for such equipement. The patients are suffering because we can't be in 5 places at once. Right now all we can do is file safety grievences until we can get this standard in writing.