Progress in cardiovascular nursing
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Correct electrode placement is critical to obtaining accurate information from any monitoring lead. The choice of lead should be based on the goals of monitoring for a specific patient population and on the individual patient's clinical situation. When using a 5-wire monitoring cable, arm electrodes should be placed on the shoulders; leg electrodes, on the lower thorax or hip area; and the chest electrode, in the desired V lead position. ⋯ If two leads are available, V1 and lead III or aVF (or a limb lead with maximal ST segment displacement) are good choices. If three leads are available, leads V1, III, and aVF are the best choices. Continuous 12-lead monitoring is available and offers several advantages.
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Prog Cardiovasc Nurs · Jan 1999
Prescription and administration of around the clock analgesics in postoperative pediatric cardiovascular surgery patients.
Despite an increased awareness of postoperative pain management in infants and children, they are still often undermedicated. The importance of providing maximum comfort to children following cardiac surgery is accentuated with shortened hospital stays that require early ambulation to achieve early discharge. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the administration of prescribed around the clock (ATC) pain medication and documentation of pain assessment when administering pro re nata (prn) analgesics. ⋯ The use of the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale in patients who were > 36 months of age (n = 71) was 38% for predose evaluation and only 15% for postdose evaluation. Findings suggest that the postoperative pain of infants and young children demands better attention. The administration of prescribed ATC medications is imperative in providing maximal postoperative pain relief in the pediatric cardiovascular surgery patient.
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Prog Cardiovasc Nurs · Jan 1999
Post procedural interventional cardiology patients on the progressive care unit.
A community hospital undertakes having stable, elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasties (PTCA) on the progressive care unit (PCU) immediately post procedure. The processes of organizational change, staff development, and quality assurance were practiced with the change in procedure. Patient, staff, and physician satisfaction has remained high.