American Journal of Critical Care. 2008;17: 454
Copyright © 2008 by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
The AJCC Patient Care Page is a service of the American Journal of Critical Care and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Designed to elaborate AACN practice guidelines based on content in select articles, this page may be photocopied noncommercially for use by readers in their work-place, in continuing education programs, or for distribution to colleagues, patients, or patients’ families. To purchase bulk reprints, call (800) 899-1712.
Care of Patients With an Implanted Cardiac Device
By
Linda Bell, RN, MSN.
Information on reducing mortality with device therapy in patients with heart failure but no ventricular arrhythmias is important for nurses who are familiar only with the use of implanted devices to treat arrhythmia and manage heart rate. Additionally, this information is important for nurses whose focus is not primarily cardiac patients but who may interact with patients who have a secondary cardiac diagnosis. It is essential for nurses to understand the purpose of the implanted cardiac devices when assessing patients who have such devices.
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Here’s what you can do:
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- Identify the types of implanted cardiac devices used, not only in your facility but in your geographic area. With the mobile nature of patients, patients could be admitted to your unit from a wide area.
- Evaluate current staff members’ knowledge about implanted cardiac devices: how the devices are used, the prevalence of their use, populations in which the devices are used, and indications for use.
- Develop an education plan that includes device training to meet the needs of your staff or coworkers.
- Contact a nurse expert in implanted cardiac devices in your area for in-service training.
- Develop a reference tool that is easily accessible to all bedside clinicians for use when patients with one of these implanted devices are admitted.
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Other helpful resources:
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- AACN Protocols for Practice: Care of the Patient With Heart Failure (product #170805). Available from the AACN Bookstore, www.aacn.org.
- Cardiovascular Nursing Practice: A Comprehensive Resource Manual and Study Guide for Clinical Nurses (product #100256). Available from the AACN Bookstore, www.aacn.org.
- AACN Procedure Manual for Critical Care, 5th edition (product #128150). Available from the AACN Bookstore, www.aacn.org.
Published as a supplement to the article by Chapa and colleagues, "Reducing Mortality With Device Therapy in Heart Failure Patients Without Ventricular Arrhythmias" (
American Journal of Critical Care. 2008;17:443–453[Abstract/Free Full Text]
).
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Here's what you can...
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