What are some important things to know as a cardiac nurse?

Things to know:

1. Cardiac rhythms
2. ACLS/BLS
3. Cardiac meds and diuretics
4. Cardiac muscle structure and function
5. Understand, I mean really understand all forms of MI and stroke. 
6. Labs associated with the above
7. Understand hypertension and meds
8. Understand how diuretics influence kidney and cardiovascular function
9. Understand anticoagulant function and associated labs and the physical manifestations of bleeding
10. Know the code cart like the back of your hand.  Know how to use the equipment
11. Understand and know how to physically use various oxygen delivery systems such as BiPAP and CPAP and non-rebreather masks
12. Get very good at placing large-bore IVs
13. Understand pacemakers and their associated influences on EKG rhythms and what it looks like when they aren't working
14. Recognize the various lung sounds and their clinical significance.  Particularly, fluid overload.
15. Understand COPD and interventions
16. Have strong general nursing skills as all the body systems are connected and can influence the heart.
17. Understand ABGs

- Frank

What are some societal problems in nursing?

Safe staffing is a big political issue among nurses just now. Depending on state laws and the institution in question, some employers can require nurses to work overtime on short notice, or to take patient loads that they see as unsafe. I’ve also worked for some employers who subtly encouraged nurses to violate labor laws, e.g. to get to work early, take reports on patients and “get themselves organized” before punching in.

Any job with as many variables as nursing is inevitably going to be difficult at times: we all are familiar with having to work late when an emergency derails our routine; we’re all used to being called and asked to pick up more hours; we’re sometimes called on to work shorthanded. The problem arises when short staffing is the norm rather than the exception.

There have been many studies on this issue. Although results have been varied, the general consensus is that, all other things being equal, a higher nurse-to-patient ratio does result is fewer patient complications, and lower mortality rates.

What is a certified nurse-midwife?

A nurse-midwife becomes an RN first and then goes to school to be a midwife for another 2 yrs. So she has a master in midwifery. She is a CNM and can prescribe medications and do hospital births. Rarely does a CNM do home births.

A direct-entry midwife goes straight into midwifery school for 2 yrs, pass a national exam and do about 3–5 yrs of internship She is a Certified professional midwife, usually with a state license. “ CPM”. CPM’s do mostly home or birth center births. Generally, she can’t do hospital births and have only a few medications they can use, taking only low-risk clients.

Then there are “traditional” midwives that are not licensed, have no requirements for schooling, usually trained by apprenticeship only. In some states this is legal and other states a traditional midwife is illegal.