Category Archives: Cardiac Nursing

Part I: Foundations of Cardiac Care 1.Cardiac Nursing Today: Evidence-Based Practice 2.Epidemiology of Coronary Artery Disease 3.Epidemiology of Heart Failure 4.Anatomy of the Cardiovascular System 5.Cardiovascular Physiology: The Myocardium 6.Adaptations to and During Exercise 7.Regulation of Blood Pressure and Cardiac Output 8.Systemic and Pulmonary Circulation 9.Inflammation 10.Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis 11.Central and Autonomic Nervous System and the Heart 12.Nutrition 13.Genetic and Environmental Basis of Cardiac Disease 14.Impact of Aging on Cardiac Function 15.Impact of Cardiac Disease on Psychological State 16.Impact of Cardiac Disease on the Family 17.Sleep, Sleep Disorders, and Cardiac Disease 18.Impact of Cardiac Disease on Sexuality Part II: Core Competencies of Clinicians Practicing Across the Continuum of Care 19.Multidisciplinary Versus Interdisciplinary Care 20.Nurses in the Emergency Department 21.Nurses in Intensive Care 22.Nurses in Telemetry and Step-Down 23.Perioperative Nursing Care 24.Nurses in Outpatient Clinics 25.Cardiac Rehabilitation 26.Nurses in Home Care 27.Nurses in Hospice and Palliative Care 28.Nurses in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory 29.Nurse's Role in Exercise Testing and Noninvasive Imaging 30.Contributions of Clinical Pharmacologists 31.Contribution of Clinical Psychologists Part III: Risk Factor Modification in Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Prevention 32.Primary Prevention in Childhood 33.Smoking 34.Dyslipidemia 35.Hypertension 36.Obesity 37.Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes 38.Sedentary Lifestyle 39.Stress 40.Impact of Depression on Cardiac Disease … Continue reading →

Chapter 36: Cardiac DisordersLinton: Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing, 6th Edition MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. A nurse performs an apical-radial pulse evaluation, with the result of 100/88. What is the pulse deficit?a. 12b. 24c. 76d. 88ANS: ATo detect an apical-radial pulse deficit, the rates should be counted simultaneously and compared for differences. If a difference exists between the apical rate and the radial rate, then a pulse deficit is present. For example, in atrial fibrillation, a pulse deficit exists. DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: p. 687 OBJ: 8TOP: Vital Sign Assessment: Pulse DeficitKEY: Nursing Process Step: AssessmentMSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation 2. What is increased in hypertension that in turn causes an increase in the work of the heart?a. Preloadb. Stroke volumec. Contractilityd. AfterloadANS: DAn increase blood pressure creates an increase in afterload because the heart must work harder to push the blood out of the left ventricle into the circulating volume. DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 685-686 OBJ: 7TOP: Hypertension Effect on Afterload KEY: Nursing Process Step: ImplementationMSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation 3. Which heart sound should the nurse record as normal?a. Ventricular gallop in a 20-year-old patientb. Atrial gallop in a 25-year-old patientc. Friction rub in a … Continue reading →

When youre taking care of patients on cardiac monitoring, Its important to be able to not only identify rhythm changes, but also have an idea around some typical interventions for these changes. Im going to go over a few common ECG changes and typical subsequent nursing interventions. Increasing Pre-ventricular Contractions (PVCs) As youre looking at the monitor, youre noticing that there are more PVCs. Maybe at the beginning of the shift there they were pretty infrequent, but they are becoming more frequent as the shift goes on. Whenever I first notice this, I typically get a full set of vitals. Its also important to check and see what the patients latest electrolytes were and when they were drawn. Electrolyte imbalances can cause an increase in PVCs, so I like to have all of this information before I call the physician. Typically, the physician will ask about the latest labs, intake and output, vitals, as well as which medications the patient received so far today. If the patient has electrolyte imbalance is, they may most like will order medications to correct this (potassium, magnesium, calcium, are just a few examples). This is quite a priority and needs to be done as … Continue reading →

Pediatric cardiac nurses in the Cardiac Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) offer specialized nursing care of infants, children and adults with cardiac and congenital heart disease. Our nurses are passionate about their work, and their influence extends beyond the hospital to community initiatives and outreach. Pediatric cardiac nurses are highly invested in their role as patient and family educators. There are more than 250 specially trained pediatric cardiac nurses in the Children's Hospital Cardiac Center and the Pediatric Cardiac Nursing team has more than 30 nurses with advanced degrees, including nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse educators and masters degree-prepared staff nurses. Pediatric cardiac nurses and nurse practitioners practice within a collaborative, interdisciplinary model with physicians, respiratory therapists, child life specialists, social workers and other disciplines. Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of Nursing, was re-designated as a Magnet institution in January 2014. CHOP was initially designated a Magnet hospital in 2004 and re-designated as a Magnet institution in 2008. Only 2 to 3 percent of hospitals nationwide have achieved this coveted status. Children's Hospital was the first pediatric hospital in Pennsylvania to receive Magnet status. Learn more about what it means to be a Magnet institution. Evidence-based practice … Continue reading →

Cardiac Nursing Education and Curriculum There are several Masters in nursing programs for cardio-vascular nurses across the country, most commonly allowing you to incorporate cardiac courses into a Clinical Nurse Specialist or Nurse Practitioner role. While the CNS role is most common, there are several ways to specialize within this field. Many nursing schools across the country offer a Clinical Nurse Specialist Master's degree program. These programs are designed to prepare students who want to expand their expertise related to the management of a specific patient population, including Cardiac Care nursing. Eligibility for admission criteria usually includes: Undergraduate Statistics and Health Assessment are required prerequisites. The curriculum for a typical Clinical Nurse Specialist program includes: The advanced practice nursing coursework prepares you through clinical courses that include cardiovascular disease, risk assessment, health assessment, cardiac abnormalities and differential diagnosis of cardiovascular conditions. Some nursing schools have Clinical Nurse Specialist MSN programs which are delivered in an online format. You are usually required to attend one orientation day on campus when the program starts, and the clinical portion is intended to be completed in your local region. There are also RN to MSN programs to become a CNS, and you may have … Continue reading →

Cardiovascular System (Heart) Content Circulatory SystemFunctions of the HeartBlood flow Through the HeartCardiac Muscle CellsIntrinsic Conduction SystemCardiac impulseExcitation-ContractionConduction PathwayElectrocardiogramCardiac CycleHeart SoundsCardiac OutputFactors Affecting Cardiac Output-- Preload-- --Contractility-----AfterloadRegulation of the HeartPrimary control factors of the heartCongestive Heart Failure Circulatory System The parts of the circulatory system include: Functions of the Heart Pulmonary Circulation Systemic Circulation Blood flow Through the Heart 1. Superior/Inferior vena cava and coronary sinus2. Rt Atrium 3. Tricuspid valve 4. Rt ventricle5. Pulmonary semilunar valve 6. Pulmonary trunk 7. Right and left pulmonary arteries 8. Lungs7. Pulmonary veins 8. Lt atrium 9. Bicuspid valve (mitral) 10. Lt ventricle 11. Aortic semilunar valve12. Ascending aorta 13. Coronary arteries 14. Arch of aorta Click here for an animation that summarizes the flow of blood through the heart. Cardiac Muscle Cells Cardiac Cell Histology Intrinsic Conduction System Autorhythmic cells depolarize spontaneously but at different rates: Sinoatrioal (SA) node intrinsic rate 70-80 Atrioventricular (AV) node 40-60 Atrioventricular bundles 20-40 Purkinje fibers 20-40 Sinoatrial (SA) Node Click here for an animation on the conduction system of the heart. The animation is followed by practice questions. Pacemaker Potential Cycle 1. Normal RMP at -60mV 2. Decreased efflux of K+, membrane permeability decreases between APs, … Continue reading →

Cardiac Nursing Education and Curriculum There are several Masters in nursing programs for cardio-vascular nurses across the country, most commonly allowing you to incorporate cardiac courses into a Clinical Nurse Specialist or Nurse Practitioner role. While the CNS role is most common, there are several ways to specialize within this field. Many nursing schools across the country offer a Clinical Nurse Specialist Master's degree program. These programs are designed to prepare students who want to expand their expertise related to the management of a specific patient population, including Cardiac Care nursing. Eligibility for admission criteria usually includes: Undergraduate Statistics and Health Assessment are required prerequisites. The curriculum for a typical Clinical Nurse Specialist program includes: The advanced practice nursing coursework prepares you through clinical courses that include cardiovascular disease, risk assessment, health assessment, cardiac abnormalities and differential diagnosis of cardiovascular conditions. Some nursing schools have Clinical Nurse Specialist MSN programs which are delivered in an online format. You are usually required to attend one orientation day on campus when the program starts, and the clinical portion is intended to be completed in your local region. There are also RN to MSN programs to become a CNS, and you may have … Continue reading →