Authors

• Ljiljana Kralj — Županijska bolnica Čakovec, Čakovec, Hrvatska

Abstract

The Coronary Care Unit (CCU) at the Čakovec County Hospital manage patients suffering from heart diseases who require constant monitoring. The CCU is equipped with medical equipment and gear for performing various diagnostic and treatment procedures. When working with cardiac patients, teamwork and good communication skills are very important. Nurses are educated in recognizing arrhythmias and in cardiopulmonary reanimation, disease complications, and the administration and action of medication. The CCU performs many invasive and non-invasive diagnostic and treatment procedures, which requires being well-equipped with medical devices and trained staff.

Keywords

coronary care unit, medical equipment, nurse

DOI

Full Text

The hospital in the town of Čakovec was founded after the First World War. Treatment requirements increased in the period between the two world wars and the existing hospital could not satisfy the needs of the population, so construction of a new hospital was started with significant contribution from the population of the Međimurje region. In 1973 the hospital started working at the new location. The Coronary Care Unit (CCU) was developed in 2000 as an independent unit. Today the CCU is part of the Internal Medicine Department. It manages patients who require constant medical care. The CCU is equipped with 7 beds divided by screens allowing access from all sides, with protective rails and a device to assist during lifting. Every bed has a mechanism for position changing, and the sides of the bed can be removed to allow access during endotracheal intubation and cardiopulmonary reanimation. Every box has a vital function monitor and an oxygen delivery system. Disinfectants are available at each bed to allow staff to maintain hand hygiene and prevent spread of infections. The CCU is equipped with modern medical devices. The postcoronary area has 2 twin bed rooms and 1 single bed room that serves as an isolation room. Every room has a bathroom and a toilet. The Internal Medicine Polyclinic includes a cardiology clinic with exercise stress test, Holter ECG, and transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Interventional cardiology work began in December 2016, using three day hospital beds and mostly treating patients who require diagnostic tests, while patients who require intervention are housed at the CCU for continuous monitoring. The procedures performed at the CCU are: electrocardioversion, pericardiocentesis, thoracentesis, venous catheter induction, temporary pacemaker implantation, and non-invasive ventilation. The CCU treats approximately 800 patients annually, mostly for acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism, heart failure, sepsis, and other conditions that require 24-hour monitoring. Patients are cared for by nurses and technicians working in shifts. Nurses and technicians participate in patient care, therapy application, sample taking for analysis, preparing patients for diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient monitoring, assistance during procedures, and in preparing nursing documentation, and are educated in recognizing arrhythmias and participating in cardiopulmonary reanimation. ## Conclusion The CCU treats patients who require constant monitoring, care, and treatment. The role of the nurse is extremely important because nurses are with the patients 24 hours a day. Care for cardiac patients requires teamwork, cooperation, and well-educated and experienced nurses whose work is based on good communication skills and empathy towards patients, with whom it is very important to develop a feeling of safety and trust that significantly influences the treatment outcomes. The work of nurses and technicians in the coronary unit requires constant education and readiness to acquire new knowledge and competencies required for work with patients in order to maximize the quality of care.