Cardiac Care

Cardiac Care provides a quick and simple reference guide for clinicians to enable them to provide effective and evidence-based practice in cardiac care. This book recognizes that most people suffering from chronic heart disease are cared for outside specialist coronary care units and it is very difficult for clinicians new to cardiac care to ensure an adequate knowledge base in all areas. As such, a wide variety of nurses and other health professionals require a comprehensive, accessible resource to understand this disease. This book is written by experienced clinicians who are able to take the reader step-by-step through the patient journey, providing an overview of the fundamental aspects of cardiac care. Preface.

Contributors.

Acknowledgements.

Chapter 1. The physiology and pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system (F. Gascoigne).

Chapter 2. Primary prevention (B. Asatourian).

Chapter 3. Chest pain assessment in the pre-admission setting (A. Saycell).

Chapter 4. Care of the patient with acute coronary syndrome in the accident and emergency department (D. Vickers & I. Jones).

Chapter 5. Drugs affecting the cardiovascular system (I. Jones & E. Lawson).

Chapter 6. Resuscitation (D. Parkinson).

Chapter 7. Care of the patient with acute coronary syndrome in the coronary care unit (I. Jones).

Chapter 8. Electrocardiography and cardiac rhythm recognition in practice-the basics (B. Parr & M. Lappin).

Chapter 9. Common investigations in the management of patients with coronary heart disease (G. Blanchard & I. Jones).

Chapter 10. Cardiac interventions (G. Blanchard, et al.).

Chapter 11. Cardiac surgery (C. Rimmer, et al.).

Chapter 12. Cardiac rehabilitation (P. Bithell & M. Gaston).

Chapter 13. Management of the patient with Chronic heart failure (A. Dormer).

Index.

Ian Jones, President, British Association for Nursing in Cardiac Care and Lecturer in Cardiac Nursing, University of Salford, UK. Coronary Heart Disease remains the biggest killer and cause of disability in the western world. The improvement in the acute management of these patients and subsequent reduction in mortality will mean that all health professionals will care for patients with CHD at some point in their professional careers.

Traditionally cardiac textbooks have been aimed at a select few nurses practising within the coronary care unit. Whilst this text should form the basis of all coronary care nurse induction programmes, the publication of the National Service Framework for CHD has ensured the speciality has become much more diverse incorporating not only treatment, but, the vital elements of prevention, rehabilitation and palliative care. Cardiac Care offers clinicians new to the area an adequate knowledge base. The book has been written by experienced clinicians that take the reader step by step through the patient journey, from initial prevention through the critical period to rehabilitation or palliative care.

The book may be read as a whole or kept on hand for reference purposes. Cardiac Care is a fundamental resource for all those new to the area. It’s a great textbook to read through and to keep to hand for reference purposes.