Find Vacancies at

Best viewed with

Best resolution is

Gardenia
(CCU - Coronary Care Unit)

RECOVERING FROM A HEART ATTACK

Last December the nurse-led cardiac rehabilitation project “Recovering from a Heart Attack”, developed by our team on Gardenia ward, won The Barclays Bank Quality Award. It represented the culmination of our efforts from practically nothing, when we first moved into the newly built CCU ward in June 1993, to the standards we have developed today.

When we think back to the beginning this seems all the more amazing. The day before we moved we had been nurses on a general medical ward. We had a basic knowledge of cardiology and a keen interest in the care and treatment of patients with chest pain, but we had very limited experience of what modern technology could do. Nor did we realise what influence and contribution a skilled, professional nurse could make to the decision-making process and interventional treatment for our patients.

As ward manager I was really lucky to have a clinical sister, who had already completed the coronary care course. It was really thanks to her that the training and development of the unit started as well as it did. Gardenia now has three Charge Nurses, a Nurse Practitioner and a knowledgeable team of staff who are evolving all the time. Our aim is that all staff will eventually have undertaken the coronary care course or equivalent.

The development of the unit has been very exciting. The sophisticated monitoring equipment is being used to its full potential as staff have become competent in reading ECGs and anticipating action. Treatments have changed dramatically over the past five years and many new drugs are now available, all of which require trials. It has been a mammoth task keeping up to date.

The Coronary Care ward has become a specialised unit. The Consultant Cardiologist, Dr. Deaner, makes ward rounds daily and has brought a lot of new ideas and opportunities to Gardenia. The permanent pacing service is new and has potential for expansion, with the possibility of income generation. This will take us into the realm of day-case work and will enhance service provision and the reputation of the unit.

I am convinced that our success is due to the input of every member of the multi-disciplinary team. Because everyone participated and contributed the rehabilitation programme is effective both in theory and practice. There is now a lot of skill and expertise on Gardenia ward. We shall go on improving and developing, both as a unit and a team.

Gill Perry, Ward Manager Cathy Dunne, Senior Sister Mansah Osei-Asibey, Charge Nurse Fouad Magho, Charge Nurse Kirsty Smy, Nurse Practitioner

[Acute]
[Wards & Departments][Consultants] [Private Patient Unit]
[Statistics & Performance][Patients Charter][Quality Issues]
[HOME] [Search Site]

Website design © 1998, 1999 by Robert Wheeler - Webmaster