ACS-secondary prevention Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

ACS-secondary prevention - Essay Example has improved in the past 10 years. Based on solid clinical evidence and new drugs and devices, the rate of secondary M.I.’s and morbidity can be reduced substantially with proper post-M.I. medical intervention (Hinstridge 1991). Newer findings demonstrate that aggressive post-M.I. treatment can have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality, as well as improving a patient’s quality of life years. Compliance remains a major issue, both in terms of taking medications and ceasing behaviours which can contribute to secondary ACS. The special concentration of this paper will be on patients while in the cardiac unit and in the following critical weeks. This paper also deals with the role of the ACS nurse in the regional cardiac care setting. Despite the overwhelming evidence that following new, more aggressive proceedures can save lives, there is still some resistance from staff to make the changes necessary to assure that the new guidelines are followed. Recent data gathered by the British Heart Foundation has established the importance of following new, more-aggressive guidelines in the treatment of post-ACS patients in order to assure a reduced risk of secondary events. The NHS is committed to instituting new interventional techniques (both drug and angioplasty routines), and has begun a policy of installing ACS-specialised nurses in each regional heart center. The reaction of staff to this new specialty is mixed at best (Dunckley 2006). Effective implementation of new ACS procedures starts with EMT response to calls, Emergency Room staff response to patients with M. I. symptoms, and Cardiac Unit response with rapid drug and angioplasty treatment. Such changes require significant staffing and schedule modification, which can be met with resistance, despite the clear evidence that the procedures can save lives. Practical considerations also intercede, as nurses must interpret the new BHF guidelines and ensure that they are followed