NURSING

CAD ACS & AMI

HF

Workshop

THE HIGHLY ACTIVE CARDIAC UNIT

Co-Chair(s)

• Michael G.

  Michael Goldfarb, MD MSc

  Cardiac Intensivist
  McGill University
• 

  Diana Dima, B.Sc.(N)., CCN(C)

  Chef de service des effectifs d'infirmieres praticiennes specialisees

Presenter(s)

• Barry B.

  Barry Burstein, MD

  Critical Care (Cardiology) Fellow
  Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
• Julie V.

  Julie Valiquette, BSc PT, MSc

  Physiotherapist - In-patient Clinical Coordinator

Planning Committee Member(s)

• 

  Joelle Berube-Dufour, BSc MSc

  Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Coordinator

Involuntary bedrest is the standard of care following a heart attack or acute heart failure hospitalization and is an ingrained part of acute care cardiology culture. However, bedrest is associated with muscle loss and decreased functional abilities, which can lead to delayed recovery and disability following hospitalization, particularly in older adults. Early mobilization is safe and is associated with increased muscle strength and improved post-hospital physical and cognitive outcomes. Yet early mobilization programs are currently underused, particularly in acute cardiac care units. The Highly Active Cardiac Unit workshop will be an interactive experience aimed to increase attendees knowledge of the benefits and role of early mobility in acute cardiac patients. Attendees will be introduced to a nurse-driven early mobility program that is endorsed by the Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nurses and will be given the tools to implement the program in their cardiac care unit. The 60-minute workshop will be composed of short focused sessions led by a multidisciplinary team of mobility “champions” covering the following topics: - History of cardiology immobility culture in 1 minute (1 min) Michael Goldfarb, MD - Introduction and evidence for early mobility in cardiac patients (6 min): Michael Goldfarb, MD - Nurse-driven early mobility (6 min): Diana Dima, RN - Nurses’ experience (6 min): Diana Dima, RN - Physiotherapists /occupational therapists’ experience (6 min): Joelle Berube-Dufour, OT and Julie Valiquette, PT - Physicians’ experience (6 min): Barry Burstein, MD - Patients and family experience (6 min): Diana Dima, RN - How to turn your unit into a Highly Active Cardiac Unit (9 min): Diana Dima, RN and Michael Goldfarb, MD - Question and Answer period: 14 minutes Sessions will be led by Diana Dima, RN (co-chair), clinical nurse specialist and mobility leader; Michael Goldfarb, MD (co-chair) expert in cardiac intensive care and early mobility; Joelle Berube-Dufour, OT, instructor with clinical expertise in mobility; Julie Valiquette, PT, instructor and leader of EM program development; Barry Burstein, MD, trainee in acute cardiac care. By the end of the workshop, attendees will have the knowledge and skills to transform their cardiac care units into highly active cardiac units.

 

Target Audience(s):

Cardiac technicians & nurses
Critical care cardiologists and specialists
Trainee (clinical)

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

• describe the benefits and role of early mobilization in people with acute cardiac disease;
• identify and address common barriers to early mobilization in acute cardiac patients; and
• implement a nurse-driven early mobilization program in their cardiac care unit.