Acute coronary syndromes—the role of the CCU nurse. Part I: Initial management

Cardiac nursing has changed significantly in recent years, and many roles that were traditionally undertaken by medical staff have been adopted by nurses. In addition, the medical treatment that patients with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) receive has become significantly more invasive and complex with the availability of new drugs and treatment options. This makes cardiac nursing an exciting area to work in, with considerable scope for professional development. Furthermore, advances in patient safety methodology are changing service delivery. The role of the cardiac nurse remains central to the provision of good care, and ensuring that it remains safe, effective and patient-centred. This is the first of a two-part article on the role of the coronary care unit (CCU) nurse in the management of ACS patients and describes the initial management.