Cardiac nursing

Cardiac nursing is a loose term that includes many sub-specialty areas that relate to patients with problems of the heart and related systems. This includes conditions such as unstable angina, cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction and cardiac dysrhythmia.

Cardiac nurses have specialized skills such as electrocardiogram telemetry monitoring, advanced cardiac life support, defibrillation, and medication administration by continuous intravenous drip.

Cardiac nurses work in many different areas. These include: Coronary care units (CCU), Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory (CCL), Intensive Care Units(ICU), Operating theatres, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Research, Cardiac Surgical wards, Cardiac Medical wards and others.