CARDIAC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

For the purpose of this web site I will be referring to nursing care as related to procedures being done by cardiothoracic surgeons.  The patient population in such a unit would include patients that have had coronary artery bypass surgery,    mini-maze procedure, aortic/thoracic aneurysm repair, heart transplantation, and any type of lung surgery requiring the placement of chest tubes.

The type of equipment that a nurse, in such a setting, needs to be familiar with is temporary pacemakers.  After coronary artery bypass surgery patient often come to the intensive care unit with atrial and ventricular pacing wires.  If necessary this can be attached to the temporary pacemaker.  Chest tubes are also an integral part of the care of a patient that has undergone coronary artery bypass surgery.  The nurse in the cardiac intensive care unit must also be comfortable with taking care of a patient with an intra-aortic balloon pumo ( IABP ).  The patients coming out of surgery having had a CABG will almost always be intubated.  These patients will probably have a Swan-ganz catheter and an arterial line.  These patients will also probably be an multiple drips, including an insulin drip, isuprel, and an inotrope.  A strong knowledge base for cardiac anatomy and cardiac assessment is prerequesite for working in a cardiac intensive care unit.