[Pacemaker implantation. The nurse's role]

This article takes an indepth look at the role of a cardiological nurse in a coronary unit of a hospital where this nurse performs an important part in treating medical emergencies which seriously affect a patient's life. To begin with, a brief introductory section presents the physiological aspects related to cardiac stimulation, followed by the possible factors which indicate the use of an artificial stimulator. Techniques for implanting various types of pacemakers are described. A nurse intervenes in different ways in these procedures: a nurse aids in the pre-operation care and technical setup; a nurse aids the doctor while the pacemaker is being implanted; and during the postoperation phase, a nurse checks on the correct functioning of the pacemaker and if the nurse detects complications, she/he strives to bring an early solution to these problems. In order to carry out these duties, prior knowledge will provide nurses with a sureness of how to act when faced with emergencies.