NURSING
1. Explain the role of the interdisciplinary team in cardiac rehabilitation.
When caring for the cardiac patient, an important role of a nurse is to collaborate with
members of the interdisciplinary health care team, including physical therapist, case manager,
and home care providers. We must ensure effective communication among all health care
providers, especially when transferring the patient from the hospital to community-based
settings. In collaboration with the interdisciplinary health care team, nurses must assess the
patient for activity tolerance and help design an appropriate exercise regimen.
2. Develop a teaching plan for patients at risk for CAD regarding cardiovascular risk
modification programs and lifestyle changes.
A teaching plan for patients at risk for CAD could include teaching the patient how to
recognize the signs and symptoms of cardiovascular disease and when to seek medical
assistance. Health promotion efforts are directed toward controlling or altering modifiable risk
factors, including smoking, inactivity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, excessive
alcohol consumption, cholesterol management, and stress.
3. Compare and contrast the clinical manifestations of stable angina, unstable
angina, and MI.
According to our book, chronic stable angina is chest discomfort that occurs with moderate to
prolonged exertion in a frequency, duration, and intensity that remain the same over time.
Chronic stable angina results in only slight limitation of activity, is usually associated with a
fixed atherosclerotic plaque, is relieved by nitroglycerin or rest, is managed with drug therapy,
and rarely requires aggressive treatment. In contrast, unstable angina is chest pain or
discomfort that occurs at rest or with exertion, causes severe activity limitation, and the
attacks and intensity of the pain increase. In myocardial infarction, myocardial tissue is
abruptly and severely deprived of oxygen and blood flow is acutely reduced leading to
ischemia.
4. Interpret physical and diagnostic assessment findings in patients who have CAD.
Patients with CAD may have either angina or MI. If MI is suspected the patient will be
continuously monitored by telemetry. The most common physical assessment findings that
CAD patients present include acute pain, inadequate tissue perfusion, activity intolerance, and
ineffective coping. Diagnostically, each of these problems have an underlying cause. For
example, inadequate tissue perfusion can be caused by interruption of arterial blood flow,
activity intolerance and acute pain can be a result from imbalance between myocardial oxygen
supply and demand, and ineffective coping can be caused by effects of acute illness and/or
major changes in lifestyle. If MI is present, additional physical findings include potential for
dysrhythmias, heart failure, and recurrent symptoms and extension of injury and additional
1. Explain the role of the interdisciplinary team in cardiac rehabilitation.
When caring for the cardiac patient, an important role of a nurse is to collaborate with
members of the interdisciplinary health care team, including physical therapist, case manager,
and home care providers. We must ensure effective communication among all health care
providers, especially when transferring the patient from the hospital to community-based
settings. In collaboration with the interdisciplinary health care team, nurses must assess the
patient for activity tolerance and help design an appropriate exercise regimen.
2. Develop a teaching plan for patients at risk for CAD regarding cardiovascular risk
modification programs and lifestyle changes.
A teaching plan for patients at risk for CAD could include teaching the patient how to
recognize the signs and symptoms of cardiovascular disease and when to seek medical
assistance. Health promotion efforts are directed toward controlling or altering modifiable risk
factors, including smoking, inactivity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, excessive
alcohol consumption, cholesterol management, and stress.
3. Compare and contrast the clinical manifestations of stable angina, unstable
angina, and MI.
According to our book, chronic stable angina is chest discomfort that occurs with moderate to
prolonged exertion in a frequency, duration, and intensity that remain the same over time.
Chronic stable angina results in only slight limitation of activity, is usually associated with a
fixed atherosclerotic plaque, is relieved by nitroglycerin or rest, is managed with drug therapy,
and rarely requires aggressive treatment. In contrast, unstable angina is chest pain or
discomfort that occurs at rest or with exertion, causes severe activity limitation, and the
attacks and intensity of the pain increase. In myocardial infarction, myocardial tissue is
abruptly and severely deprived of oxygen and blood flow is acutely reduced leading to
ischemia.
4. Interpret physical and diagnostic assessment findings in patients who have CAD.
Patients with CAD may have either angina or MI. If MI is suspected the patient will be
continuously monitored by telemetry. The most common physical assessment findings that
CAD patients present include acute pain, inadequate tissue perfusion, activity intolerance, and
ineffective coping. Diagnostically, each of these problems have an underlying cause. For
example, inadequate tissue perfusion can be caused by interruption of arterial blood flow,
activity intolerance and acute pain can be a result from imbalance between myocardial oxygen
supply and demand, and ineffective coping can be caused by effects of acute illness and/or
major changes in lifestyle. If MI is present, additional physical findings include potential for
dysrhythmias, heart failure, and recurrent symptoms and extension of injury and additional
