Caring for the acute myocardial infarction patient: a nursing perspective

Cardiac nursing is nearly 30 years old. Changes in the role of cardiac nursing have directly corresponded to the three distinct medical phases of care for the acute myocardial infarction patient--arrhythmia detection, pump failure, and limiting infarct size. Nursing care delivery in the cardiac setting, the cardiac patient, and the role of the cardiac nurse each have undergone changes over the years, which together has provided a challenge to health care delivery. Future effects of technological and pharmacologic advances, social changes, and nursing professional practice issues on cardiac care delivery are imperative to consider as health care moves into the 1990s.