2000, Number 1-4
Specific activities of nursing in the cardiac rehabilitation programs
Pinson GAG
Full text
Language: Spanish
References: 8
Page: 35-41
PDF size: 156.04 Kb.
ABSTRACT
In the 1970s, cardiac rehabilitation programs became important when a number of clinics and cardiac rehabilitation centers were opened in Europe, Canada and the United States. Many years later, some countries in Latin America opened their first cardiac rehabilitation centers, including Mexico. The goals of cardiac rehabilitation are to improve functional capacity, alleviate or lessen activity- related symptoms, reduce disability, identify and modify coronary risk factors and to reduce morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular illnesses. The most important outcome of the cardiac rehabilitation programs is an improvement in the patient’s quality of life. Interventions in these programs include supervised exercise training, patient education, psychosocial and vocational evaluation and counseling. Cardiac rehabilitation programs have traditionally been classified by phases according to the clinical conditions and functional status of the patient.Different members of the health team participate in the cardiac rehabilitation programs: doctors, nurses, dieticians, social workers, physical therapists and psychologists. Nurses in cardiac rehabilitation need to have specific knowledge in order to ensure quality of care and safety for the patients. Currently, nurses are developing an important role in these programs carrying out administrative, educational, humanistic, care and research activities. Cardiac rehabilitation is a cardiology field that offers many possibilities of growth and development in nursing.
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