The 20 bed Coronary Care Unit/Cardiac Surgery Unit is an all-RN unit that provides care to cardiac surgical and cardiac medical adult patients. We provide care to a variety of patients with medical and surgical diagnoses ranging from patients who are awaiting heart catheterization with a nitroglycerin infusion to patients who are being managed with therapeutic hypothermia following cardiac arrest, and to post-operative recovery and management of cardiac surgical patients. The CCU/CSU team strives to provide very good care to our patients by exceeding their expectations. The staff is very proud of their award-recognized patient satisfaction scores that consistently exceed the national average. Partnering with patients and families in a patient- and family-centered care model, allows the CCU/CSU to be a great place to give and receive care.
Cardiac surgical patients come directly from the Cardiac OR under anesthesia. Nursing protocol-driven care along with close contact with the cardiac surgeon allows the bedside RN to reach goals of extubation and out of bed as quickly as possible. Nurse-to-patient ratios are based on patient acuity. Cardiac surgical patients are 1:1 nursing until stabilized and most often extubated before becoming 1:2 nursing. Patients with Impella LVAD or conventional ventricular assist device therapy are 1:1 nursing care. Most stable medical patients are 1:2 nursing with 1:1 nursing for higher acuity or unstable patients. Patients under therapeutic hypothermia management are cared for with 1:1 nursing.
Our medical patient population diagnoses include acute MI, cardiac arrest, unstable angina, cardiogenic shock and post-procedure interventional cardiology patients. Our surgical patient population includes bypass and valvular surgery.
Our Clinical Nurse Specialist and Clinical Supervisor provide ongoing in-room education as needed, as well as formal training programs for new technology. They also coordinate a competency-based orientation program and meet weekly to ensure orientees have the experiences they need.
