The Cardiac Patient

by Stephen O'Connor

With the increase in high-tech nursing in the acute area, nurses need to have a basic grounding in the assessment and care of cardiac patients. Coming onto an acute ward for the first time, or beginning work there as a junior nurse, the speed of care and understanding of equipment can be crucial. This book aims to provide nurses with the practical information they need to know when working on an acute ward. Taking a problem-solving approach, the book provides a detailed background to cardiology and then looks at the immediate nursing care of cardiac patients in this acute setting, It goes on to examine the on-going care cardiac patients need once out of the acute state. The book also features detailed coverage of anatomy and physiology, combining theory with practice.

Part 1: Normal physiology and anatomy; patient observation; cardiac pharmacology; investigating cardiac patients. Part 2 Immediate patient care: chest pain; low cardiac output; bradycardia; fear of death; resuscitation; acute pulmonary oedema. Part 3 Ongoing patient care: patient education; patient rehabilitation.