Upon completion of this section, you will be able to:
The cardiac system is the primary body system responsible for the pumping of blood required for perfusion of body tissues. Perfusion is the flow of blood through arteries and capillaries to deliver essential cellular oxygen and nutrients (Giddens, 2017). Perfusion can be divided into central and tissue perfusion. Central perfusion is the mechanism for blood delivery and is impaired by a decrease in cardiac output (Giddens, 2017). Tissue perfusion is the actual amount of blood which flows through target tissues and can be impaired by factors which disrupt the delivery of oxygen, fluid and nutrients to cells (Giddens, 2017).
Review the following videos on common heart sounds:
Review the following PowerPoint on cardiovascular concepts:
The following webinars describe cardiac events and associated interventions that nurses will need to be aware of when caring for patients within the IMCU/ICU.
Often vasoactive medications are required for patients with increasing acuity and complexity. To administer these medications, the practitioner must be competent in the safe administration and have the appropriate monitoring for patients. Review the following video series on common ICU/ICU vasoactive medications.