CVICU Blog
Clear, practical posts on critical care topics.
Early Recognition and Management of Sepsis: A Race Against Time
Early Recognition and Management of Sepsis: A Race Against Time Time is tissue. In the critical care world, this saying couldn't be more relevant than when discussing sepsis. As a critical care profes
Read postUnderstanding Moderate Sedation: A Comprehensive Guide
Moderate sedation, a state of drug-induced depression of consciousness, allows patients to respond purposefully to verbal commands, possibly accompanied by light tactile stimulation. This level of sed
Read postRespiratory Basics: Understanding Oxygenation, Ventilation, and Respiratory Complications
By Cheryl Palmer, RN, BSN, CCRN, CRRN - CVICU NOTES What's the Difference: Oxygenation VS Ventilation Oxygenation is the addition of oxygen to a system, in this case, the human body. On the other hand, Ventilation is
Read postThe Intra Aortic Balloon Pump
The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is a volume displacement device positioned between a left subclavian artery and renal arteries. The usual insertion site is the femoral artery but the balloon may
Read postHeart Valves
Whats the function of heart valves The valves ensure that blood flows in a single pathway through the heart by opening and closing in a particular time sequence during the cardiac cycle. Normal valves
Read postFavorite Nursing Tools and Things
Every nurse has a “bag of some sort “ when going to work. Most of the items in the bag are not provided by the employer. Plus, some of these items are things we love as a person and can’t do without!
Read postTransfusions
Prior to Transfusion Review the physician's transfusion order for: Component type Number of units Special transfusion requirements Rate of transfusion Verify Informed Consent is in the medical record
Read postHeart Transplantation
Over the last year, I have received handoff reports on heart transplant patients. One of the things that I heard o few times during the handoff was: “the patient had an OHT open heart transplant”. E
Read postCardiac Valve Disease
What’s the function of heart valves? The valves ensure that blood flows in a single pathway through the heart by opening and closing in a particular time sequence during the cardiac cycle. Normal valv
Read postNeurologic Dysfunction
Anyone with anesthesia is at risk for neurological dysfunction, and patients with cardio-pulmonary bypass surgery are at even higher risk. Neurological Dysfunction complications are more evident in th
Read postLidocaine Toxicity
Lidocaine is metabolized by the liver The therapeutic range is 1.5 to 5.0 mcg/mL In higher doses and at toxic levels, the central nervous and respiratory systems will be affected. Effects on Heart and
Read postFecal Management Systems
What is a fecal management system? FMS is a temporary containment device, indicated for bedridden or immobilized, incontinent patients with liquid or semi-liquid stool. Why are fecal management system
Read postIntravascular Monitoring and Set Up of the Pressure Transducer
A transducer is a device which converts energy from one form to another. Converts pressure into a change of electrical current. Signal conditioning and monitoring software converts it into a human-rea
Read postVentilator Modes And Tips
VENTILATOR MODES Assist control : vent delivers a minimum set number of breaths, and patient-initiated breaths trigger fully-assisted vent breaths. Tachypnea can lead to resp alkalosis, breath-stackin
Read postTHE LOW VOLTAGE Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)
The Low Voltage ECG A “low voltage,” ECG is a sign that something is getting in the way of the electrical conduction of the heart and the EKG leads on the patient’s chest. Low voltage is concerning
Read postContinuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT)
In the ICU you may have patients that require CRRT therapy. Types of CRRT SCUF (slow, continuous, ultrafiltration) Rate: 100-300 mL.hr Function: fluid removal Nursing considerations: may require antic
Read postA Brief Overview Renal Replacement Therapy
Hemodialysis performs the functions of the human kidney externally to the body. Indications include: Fluid overload, metabolic acidosis, acidema (pH less than 7.1, uremia, oliguria, hypocalcemia and A
Read postWhat Should I Report to the Provider?
As a new nurse, you should be asking a lot of questions especially if something is abnormal with our patient. It is so important that you collaborate with providers and others on the interdisciplinar
Read postPost-Operative Cardiac Admission to the CVICU
Postoperative cardiac surgery requires a team effort. The goals of a patient immediately after surgery are to maximize tissue perfusion which includes the following: Maintain tissue perfusion Stabiliz
Read postRHYTHM Assessment
One of the first things you assess in the ICU patient is the cardiac rhythm. Cardiac rhythms will impact the hemodynamic stability of the patient. Anything other than normal sinus rhythm is abnormal!
Read postVasoactive Drip Titration
The goal of vasoactive medication titration is to maintain hemodynamic stability and adequate perfusion while using the minimal amount of drug necessary. There is no one effective way to titrate vasoa
Read postPacing
What is a Pacemaker? A pacemaker is an electronic device that provides an electrical signal to make the heartbeat when its anatomical pacemakers fail. The anatomical pacemakers drive what is called th
Read postRemoving Central Venous Catheters (CVC)
One of the procedures that you will be performing quite regularly in the CVICU is removal of a central venous catheter. This is what you need to know about the procedure Equipment Suture Removal Kit S
Read postH’s and T’s
The Hs and Ts is a mnemonic used to aid in remembering the possible reversible causes of cardiac arrest. A variety of disease processes can lead to a cardiac arrest; however, they usually boil down to one or more of the "Hs and Ts".
Read postHappy Nurses Week! I Celebrate You!
It takes smart, strong and courageous people to be nurses!
Read postFree
Free CVICU Quick Reference Cards
Five printable cards for your next shift: hemodynamic values, shock patterns, ECG lead placement, pacemaker codes, and cardiac drips.