The Signs and Symptoms’
of Cardiomyopathy: The Awareness and Actions of the Registered
Nurse
by Gary D. Goldberg, PhD
Clinical Professor of Medical Education
Angeles College of Nursing, Los Angeles,
Ca.
ABSTRACT
Cardiomyopathies come from many
mechanisms, but the conditions may be divided into three major types: First, dilated or
congestive. Second, hypertrophic, and third, restrictive. A careful history-taking by the
registered nurse or practitioner along with a complete physical examination can reveal cardiomyopathies, but
it is appropriate to confirm the diagnosis with a transthoracic echocardiography and selected laboratory
studies.
Key Points –
- Cardiomyopathies are caused by a primary disease that
affects the heart muscle, and will lead to impairment from abnormal ventricular
function.
- Abnormal ventricular function may be the result of the
following: (1) systolic
dysfunction, (2) diastolic dysfunction,
or (3) a combination of
both.
- In patients with hypertrophic (i.e., enlargement or
overgrowth of an organ due to an increase in size of its cells) cardiomyopathy (HCM), a dynamic outflow
tract obstruction and secondary mitral regurgitation may cause symptoms of exertional dyspnea, angina, and
syncope.
- Some cardiomyopathies are reversible. Therefore,
every effort from the physician’s team, (e.g., lead registered nurse and/or practitioner, along with the
nursing education dept. and physical therapy team), should be made to identify the reversible forms and to
treat them appropriately in order to prevent further
deterioration. Cont'd
A Man Apart
Joan M. Fenske, R.N., M.S.,
D.N.Sc.
“Does Ken express himself sexually?”
The Social Worker held his pen aloft, waiting for an answer. We were on page five of Kenneth’s
intake questionnaire. Two hours of a scheduled four hour interview had elapsed. My mouth opened, staying still
and motionless. 18 years of interviews, completing questionnaires and submitting forms had not prepared me for
this question. I had no answer.
Noticing my stupefied expression, the Social Worker shuffled his papers until he found the
facilities’ Patient Bill of Rights.
“After discussing Kenneth’s situation, and the care we expect to provide him, you’ll
need to indicate by your signature we have covered each item. Respecting and acknowledging his sexuality is one
of his rights”. Cont'd
Supply and Demand for Registered
Nurses
Karina L. Gordin
The post of a registered nurse is particularly important both in the
hospital and educational setting given that many responsibilities, which bear great consequences, depend on the
nurse to be carried out proficiently. In a hospital environment, which may seem sterile and somber, a nurse’s smile
may be very encouraging to the patient who depends not only on such human contact but on consistent monitoring of
vital signs, administration of medicine in a timely manner, and a variety of other essential duties reserved to the
nursing post. This quality of care may be critically compromised if an emerging crisis in the healthcare industry
is not reversed. Specifically, a nursing shortage across America is generating a variety of preventable
complications in the medical care system, which includes medication errors, overcrowding in emergency rooms, and
even unexpected patient deaths. On the educational front, the shortage of registered nurses means a shortage of
hospital health educators and nursing programs, which in turn cannot meet the demand of the number of
well-qualified student applicants. It is difficult to pinpoint every contributing factor behind the growing
concern, however, these trends, amongst others shortly examined in this paper, contribute to the dramatically
increasing nursing shortage every year. Cont'd
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