CCU Observation Paper
Coronary Care Unit Observation Paper
Shawn Wagner
San Joaquin Delta College
Earlier in my life while working as an EMT, I have had the feeling that my calling in patient care would eventually be in the Intensive Care Unit. As a student nurse, I had the opportunity to spend a shift in the Coronary Care Unit and it only confirms my feeling. The CCU team at St. Joes Hospital welcomed me in and let me get some great hands-on experience during the shift and made me feel like I was a part of the team, making my time there an enjoyable learning experience.
Coronary care units care for hospitalized patients with the most severe and life threatening illnesses and injuries. These patients require close monitoring, support and medication to sustain normal body functions. The CCU staff consists of highly trained doctors and critical care nurses trained to care for critically ill patients. Aside from critical care responsibilities, ICU nurses are required to be knowledgeable with a wide variety of devices and monitoring equipment that is not typically used in other departments of the hospital. ICU nurses may further their credentials and become CCRN certified through the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). Becoming CCRN certified validates the nurse’s knowledge of acutely and/or critically ill.
The shift began with my choice of the patients that I would assist caring for. I chose to work with the nurse that had the most critically ill patients. Report was given from the night shift nurse, and we immediately began working with the two patients assigned. Care began with a full assessment of the patient to include a full set of vitals and a head-to-toe assessment. This patient was admitted to the CCU following a myocardial infarction (at the patient’s home) where CPR began approximately five minutes after the episode began. This led to extensive brain injury as evidenced by the CT scan, decerebrate posturing, and overall flaccidity of the patient. The
Shawn Wagner
San Joaquin Delta College
Earlier in my life while working as an EMT, I have had the feeling that my calling in patient care would eventually be in the Intensive Care Unit. As a student nurse, I had the opportunity to spend a shift in the Coronary Care Unit and it only confirms my feeling. The CCU team at St. Joes Hospital welcomed me in and let me get some great hands-on experience during the shift and made me feel like I was a part of the team, making my time there an enjoyable learning experience.
Coronary care units care for hospitalized patients with the most severe and life threatening illnesses and injuries. These patients require close monitoring, support and medication to sustain normal body functions. The CCU staff consists of highly trained doctors and critical care nurses trained to care for critically ill patients. Aside from critical care responsibilities, ICU nurses are required to be knowledgeable with a wide variety of devices and monitoring equipment that is not typically used in other departments of the hospital. ICU nurses may further their credentials and become CCRN certified through the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). Becoming CCRN certified validates the nurse’s knowledge of acutely and/or critically ill.
The shift began with my choice of the patients that I would assist caring for. I chose to work with the nurse that had the most critically ill patients. Report was given from the night shift nurse, and we immediately began working with the two patients assigned. Care began with a full assessment of the patient to include a full set of vitals and a head-to-toe assessment. This patient was admitted to the CCU following a myocardial infarction (at the patient’s home) where CPR began approximately five minutes after the episode began. This led to extensive brain injury as evidenced by the CT scan, decerebrate posturing, and overall flaccidity of the patient. The