CCU HeartbeatThe Official Newsletter Publication of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

CCU DashboardPrimary Nurse IdentifiedMay MB - 74% HC - 43%Average of Needs Met

May MB - 4.60 HC - 3.9

Attention to Special / Personal Needs - 92.7%

Information Given to Family While in the ICU - 88.0%

April Discharge Call Manger Report% attempt - 60%

% Completed - 53.3%# DC to Home - 15

Hand HygieneCompliance - 100%

Missed Opportunity - 0

As of May 31thCLABSI -Free for 46 Days

Kevin McGurkEva Villinsky

Faridi AliBindu Thomas

Clara Taveras-PerezAngela Clarke

JUNE BIRTHDAY

CELEBRANTS

Editorial BoardCecilia MaMiriam DonioIan N. Saludares

ContributorsSusan CarreonSarah GrahamMira HanChing Reburiano

June 2011 - Vol.1 Issue 3

National Teaching Institute and Critical Care ExpositionChicago, Illinois - April 30-May 5, 2011

by Sarah Graham, RN, BSN, CCRNThe American Association of

Critical Care Nurses (AACN) holds a critical care teaching conference in a different city every year that provides nurses all over the country with resources to enhance their nursing knowledge and skills.

National Teaching Institute (NTI) allows nurses to “network with a diverse community of other nurse colleagues, learn best practices that can be applied to their own practice, earn CE credit and CERPS from the most comprehensive educational program, hear inspiring and informative presentations from renowned speakers, renew their spirit and re-energize their professional pride, and see new technology at the largest trade show for acute and critical care nurses.” 

This year, NTI was held in Chicago, Illinois and the President, Kristine Peterson, set the theme forth which was “Stand Tall.” This means to “recognize the unique and indispensable role nurses play. Recognize it, understand it, articulate it, own it, accept responsibility for it, and celebrate it.”  She went on to emphasize that nurses need to speak up, that together we can do more, to own the outcomes of your work, and to actually enjoy what you do.

The conference is held over a total of five and a half days, including a pre-conference on Saturday and Sunday.  The days started with a supersession, where the host Bertice Berry, sociologist, best-selling author and award-winning lecturer would perform skits and provide motivational speeches to start out the day.  AACN even had the comedy and improv group, Second City, perform one morning at the NTI.

Then the day is broken up into different lectures, concurrent sessions, self-study labs, evidence-based posters, and a trade show that not only provided information on new machines, monitors and equipments but also gave out free goodies, including stethoscope, t-shirts, bags, pens and candies and other little souvenirs.

NTI provide nurses with the opportunity to grow professionally, and it also gives nurses an excuse to visit and explore a new city.   I thoroughly enjoyed my time at NTI, visiting Chicago, and getting to know my co-workers, especially day shift, much better.  I would highly recommend for anyone who has not gone, to make the effort and go.  Next year, the theme of the new president Mary Stahl is “Together, Stronger, Bolder.” NTI will be held in Orlando, Florida – which is reason enough to leave New York, catch some sun, see Harry Potter, and Disney World. 

The Beacon Journey continues ... Milea, Susan,

Guyolette, Katherine, Sarah, Kevin, Mira and Simone.

Welcome our 2 new nurses Roberto Arno & Annmarie McLean

Good luck to Simone Clarke leaving us to pursue CRNA.

CongratulationsMaria Beltran - 10th Year Anniversary

New CCRN’s: Gifty Anthony & Mica Wilmot

Congratulations 2011 GraduatesPreetha Alexander

Sonia JosephIan Saludares

Elizabeth SebastianMelie Tiburcio

Nyhra Villablanca

June 8- RBC SymposiumLocation: Shabazz Center

June 10 and 11 - 2 Day CCRN Review with Tom AhrensFriday and Saturday 7:00 am - 4:30 pm

Location: Mt Sinai Medical CenterBrochure available for printing from charge nurse’ computer

Cecilia’s Corner

CCRN Pearls of Wisdom

What position is preferred for patients suspected of having an air embolism ? - Left lateral decubitus / Trendelenburg position.

What are the major hemodynamic changes associated with

cardiogenic shock ? - Decreased left ventricular function and decreased cardiac output.

What complications are associated with ARDS?- Barotrauma leading to pneumothorax, pulmonary infection, pulmonary

hypertension, multisystem organ failure.

What are the most common atypical presentations of AMI? -Congestive heart failure, angina without a prolonged or severe

episode and atypical pain location.

What is the Beck’s triad associated with cardiac tamponade? - low arterial blood pressure, jugular venous distention and

distant muffled heart sounds.

June 13 - 12 Lead EKG Interpretation - 8am-4:30pmLocation: Rockefeller University

To Register for Continuing Education Events go to:http://careers.nyp.org/events.html

Calendar of Events

The young ones at NTI: Sarah Graham, Simone Clarke and Katherine Masaganda.

The CCU 2011 Graduates: Preetha Alexander, Sonia Joseph, Ian Saludares, Elizabeth Sebastian and Nyhra Villablanca with our PCD Cecilia Ma. Thanks for the

Pictured from R-L: Susan Sicat, Kevin McGurk, Katherine Masaganda, Sarah Graham and Simone Clarke.