Author Description

Part of the Nursing Secrets Series, Cardiovascular Nursing Secrets is designed to be helpful for both new and experienced nurses in the cardiovascular field. New graduates, novice nurses, or those nurses returning to work in the cardiovascular field will find the book especially helpful in learning the “pearls” or “secrets” of practice. Written in a question & answer format. Section I: Assessment provides a guide to assessment skills, such as history taking and conducting a focused cardiovascular physical exam. Includes common questions that new or experienced nurses may have about history taking and completing a physical exam in a timely manner. "Pearls" of the trade are included regarding heart auscultation. Other aspects of physical assessment, such as hemodynamic monitoring (both invasive and non-invasive) are also included. Section II: Diagnostic Procedures discusses the various types of diagnostic studies that are pertinent to the CV patient population, indications for each, and includes tips on result interpretation. Patient preparation instruction and tips for patient education for each procedure are also addressed. Section III: Symptoms and Disease States includes a discussion on common etiologies of the symptoms or disease states, differential diagnoses, the most common treatments and introduces any controversies therein. Section IV: Therapeutic Options covers some of the major categories of treatment options for CV patients. Includes patient preparation and education tips. Section V: Cardiovascular Pharmacology covers some of the major categories of pharmacological treatment options for CV patients, including indications for use, potential side effects, patient education, and any current controversies in the field of each treatment option. Section VI: Cardiovascular Risk Reduction covers areas of cardiovascular risk reduction that nurses commonly address when conducting assessments, educating for primary/secondary prevention of CV events, and completing p