Urgent: advice for a nsg student with dad with atrial fibrillation?

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Specializes in Neuro.

Hey friends,

I would like some advice and comfort if there is any to give. I am a future critical care nurse (I hope) and one thing I know is that veteran nurses are of great value and comfort to me personally and professionally, so PLEASE HELP ME.

I just found out my dad (who I have a complicated relationship with but love) has atrial fibrillation. He was put on warfarin for 6 weeks and had his blood checked often and then had a cardioversion last Friday (3 days ago). I just talked to my mom and she said that he woke up in the middle of the night on Saturday night and said he felt weird and he was sore where the pads were put, like on his back. She said that Sunday he didn't feel well so he didn't go to church. Monday (yesterday) she said he felt clammy and so she went to take his temperature and he didn't have a fever. Today she said that he feels short of breath (more than normal) and is sweating at rest with a heartrate between 70-100.

I told my mother to make my father go to his cardiologist today but I need some help. My father talked to his doctor on Saturday and asked if he was in any danger and the doc said no.

His follow up appt with the doc is Friday (three days from now) and I am not sure what is going on with my dad. At the appt on Friday they are supposed to talk about the next step now that the cardioversion didn't work which my mom said was trying it again with some drugs.

Cardiac nurses, mount up! What is happening with my dad? Does he need to call 9-1-1, see his cardiologist today, or wait till Friday.

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Specializes in Neuro.

Well, thankfully he is on his way to his cardiologist as we speak. Hopefully all will be okay.

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.

Maverick, I hope your dad is ok. Please know that members of allnurses can not give medical advice per TOS.

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

Please put in a call to your dad's cardiologist and describe the signs/ symptoms you have presented here and ask him/her what to do. We cannot give medical advice. This doesn't mean we don't care - it's just out of our scope, as an Internet message board. We all wish the best for your father.

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