Fast Facts for the Cardiac Surgery Nurse, Third Edition: Caring for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Delivers the "big picture" from pre-op through extended recovery in quick-access format

This concise clinical guide provides nurses who care for cardiac patients with speedy access to information and guidelines they need to know and use daily. Heavily updated with the newest clinical practice information, the third edition emphasizes postoperative complications and the nursing interventions designed to prevent and treat them. It includes updated coverage of risk factors for stroke and congenital heart disease and discusses new antithrombotics and antiplatelet medications.

Bulleted information, brief paragraphs, boxed indicators highlighting key information, and Fast Facts boxes are included in each chapter. The book's consistent organization facilitates quick access to information on equipment, procedures, and pre- and post-op specialty care. Ideal for new graduates and nurses considering a switch to cardiac care and critical care, this resource reinforces existing knowledge and provides a foundation for developing additional skills.

New to the Third Edition:

• Encompasses the latest research and guidelines
• Emphasizes postoperative complications and care
• Discusses diagnostic testing, preparing a patient for cardiac surgery, initial post-op complications, extended recovery complications, and stroke care
• Updated rehabilitation chapter includes important patient education content
• Educates readers about new antithrombotics and antiplatelet medications
• Offers new guidelines for use of ventricular assist devices
• Focuses on patient safety throughout

Key Features:

• Delivers a handy pocket reference for new and experienced cardiac care nurses
• Provides bulleted information, brief paragraphs, and boxed indicators highlighting critical information
• Organized for easy access to equipment, procedures, and pre- and post-op specialty care

Tanya Hodge, MS, RN, CNS, CCRN, CNRN, is a cardiovascular clinical nurse specialist, certified critical care nurse, and certified neuroscience registered nurse. She worked clinically in a variety of cardiac-related settings, including cardiac telemetry, transplant/metabolic clinical nursing, cardiology intensive care nursing, and cardiovascular research at University of California-Davis Medical Center. She was a cardio vascular CNS at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, California, between 2007 and 2013. Since 2013, she has worked as nurse manager of the Cardiac Interventional Unit and Progressive Care Unit and, most recently, the Medical/Surgical/Neuro Intensive Care Unit at Mercy General. She is a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses.