Nurse-Led Clinical Pathway Development for Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Quality Improvement Approach.

This paper examines the development of a nurse-led clinical pathway at the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, BC, to enhance care for cardiac surgery patients. The systematic quality improvement project aimed to standardize care and improve outcomes by addressing issues such as prolonged hospital stays, delayed extubation and limited post-operative mobility. By comparing clinical outcomes with benchmarks, the project identified opportunities for improvement, including early ambulation, timely extubation, reduced mortality, readmission rates and length of stay.

What every emergency nurse needs to know about aspirin: an update.

In 2005, we presented a manuscript about the use of aspirin (ASA) in the setting of the Emergency Department (ED). We now write to report recent developments in our understanding about ASA and individual responses to the medication. The phenomenon of aspirin resistance is explored.

Shortening the wait: a strategy to reduce waiting times in the emergency department.

Emergency Department crowding (EDC), extended wait times, and the issues arising as a result are well described in the health-care literature. Accordingly, reducing waiting times has become a focus across Canada. Less-urgent patient presentations represent a large proportion of the individuals presenting for care in Canadian emergency departments (ED).

Reducing delay for women seeking treatment in the emergency department for symptoms of potential cardiac illness.

Introduction: Despite more than 2 decades of research, delay in seeking treatment is a persistent clinical issue. Because of the often time-limited efficacy of therapies for acute myocardial infarction, nowhere is this of more concern than in the case of seeking treatment for symptoms indicative of potential cardiac illness. Women are frequently reported to delay longer than their male counterparts when seeking treatment for similar symptoms of cardiac nature.

Biphasic external defibrillation for adults in ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia.

Cardiac arrest, as a result of ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia, is a common phenomenon, and the only treatment available is defibrillation. Currently, defibrillators deliver either a monophasic or biphasic shock, depending on the device used. In 2005, the American Heart Association published new cardiac arrest management guidelines, which included directions about energy selection for both types of defibrillators.