title: Nursing management of the patient with acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: Contemporary approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of acute coronary syndromes have revolutionized the role of the nurse in the coronary care unit. No longer solely the agent of the physician's orders, today's coronary care unit nurse intimately works with the physician and other allied health technical personnel to help stabilize patients initially, to guide them through the early phases of therapy, to help them understand their disease, and to educate them as to their medications. In the process, the nurse gauges patient progress, is mindful of recurrent myocardial ischemia and alerts others to its presence, identifies complications of thrombolytic therapy and PTCA, is alert to potentially malignant rhythm disturbances, and finally is the advocate of patient rehabilitation. Thus, the coronary care unit nurse plays a great role in the modern care of the patient with a myocardial infarction and materially contributes to patient recovery.
mesh_terms: D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D003325:Coronary Care Units; D004434:Early Ambulation; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008020:Life Support Care; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010100:Oxygen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D011383:Progressive Patient Care; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D009020:Morphine; D008012:Lidocaine; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D010100:Oxygen