Program


Dysrhythmia symptoms: A case study exploring the art & science of the bedside nursing assessment in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU)

May 25, 2024 from 2:00pm MST to 2:30pm MST

 

Concurrent Session: Dysrhythmia symptoms: A case study exploring the art & science of the bedside nursing assessment in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU)

Palpitations, lightheadedness, or experiencing a loss of consciousness are some of the symptoms that are commonly described by people who are experiencing a cardiac rhythm disturbance.  The psychological symptoms often coupled with these somatic complaints can include feelings of uncertainty, doubt, as well as fear.  The purpose of this presentation is to describe the importance of the bedside nursing assessment of patients experiencing dysrhythmia symptoms to support the diagnostic process and facilitate treatment. A case study will be presented of a 78-year-old man who had presented to the hospital emergency department four times in two weeks with complaints of palpitations and lightheadedness with no objective diagnostic evidence to correlate with his symptoms. He re-presented with a ground level fall due to a loss of consciousness and admitted to the coronary care unit for diagnostic monitoring and evaluation.  A diagnosis of intermittent symptomatic heart block requiring permanent pacemaker intervention was made.  The variability of rhythm disturbances can be challenging to diagnosis.  As a result, a brief overview of heart block arrhythmias will be reviewed during this presentation.  The implication for nursing practice is the demonstration of the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship as well as nursing assessment, including the recognition and validation of symptoms, as they correlate to rhythm disturbances are instrumental to patient advocacy for therapeutic interventions.  

Speakers / Panelists

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    Nancy Clark
    RN BA MN NP CCN(c)

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    Meagan Heard
    RN BScN