Cardiosciences: Inpatient Nursing Units

There are four inpatient and one outpatient nursing unit in the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region which provide medical and surgical care for cardiac clients.

• A 12 bed Coronary Care Unit (CCU) at the Regina General Hospital
• A 25 bed Cardiac Surveillance Unit (CSU) at the Regina General Hospital, of which 5 beds are for Surgical Telemetry.
• A 12 bed Cardiac Surveillance Unit (CSU) at the Pasqua Hospital
• A 37 bed Cardiosciences Unit on 3F at the Regina General Hospital.

These units are staffed by teams that include a Manager, Cardiologists, Internists, Surgeons, Critical Care Associates, Registered Nurses, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, LPNs, Dieticians, Social Workers, Clergy, Respiratory Technicians, Unit Clerks and Service Aides. In the CCU and SCU/ST units, the Registered Nurses are required to have taken and completed a course in Critical Care nursing.

Common types of medical conditions for clients on these units include angina (chest pain), congestive heart failure (CHF), life threatening arrythmias (irregular heart rhythms) and myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Common types of surgical procedures on these units include cardiac bypass procedures, heart valve repair or replacement and implants such as pacemakers or ICDs.

Cardiac Care Unit at the Regina General Hospital

The Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) provides specialized primary nursing care to medical cardiac patients. Intensive cardiac and hemodynamic monitoring is provided to patients with acute coronary syndromes, cardiogenic shock, heart attacks, pulmonary edema and unstable arrhythmias. Following angioplasties and/or stents, patients recover in the CCU. Intra-aortic balloon pumping (a machine that assists the heart with its pumping action) is available for unstable patients.

Cardiac Surveillance Unit - Regina General Hospital and Pasqua Hospital

The Cardiac Surveillance Units (CSUs) provide specialized nursing care and close monitoring for medical and surgical cardiac patients. These patients require treatment and investigations in a more ambulatory setting.

In the CSU the team monitors patients who have cardiac conditions such as angina, cardiac arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarctions (heart attack) and endocarditis.

A team of qualified Registered Nurses who have completed a course in Critical Care Nursing staff the unit. They are part of a larger team that includes pharmacists, physiotherapists, dieticians, social workers, unit clerks, and service aides.

Surgical Telemetry Unit - Regina General Hospital

The Surgical Telemetry Unit (ST) within the CSU provides specialized nursing care and close monitoring for surgical cardiac patients. Our team monitors patients who have had open heart surgery (bypass or valve replacement) and pacemaker implants in the ST beds.

Cardioscience Unit (3F) - Regina General Hospital

Medical and surgical cardiac patients who require routine patient care are cared for in the Cardioscience Unit. These patient are often in the recovering phase after open heart surgery, heart attacks, angina or other cardiac conditions.

Medical Diagnostic Recovery Unit (MDRU) - Regina General Hospital

The Medical Diagnostic Recover Unit is also part of the Cardiosciences Program. Patients are admitted to this area before a catheterization or diagnostic procedure and remain in this area for 4 - 6 hours following the procedure. The majority of patients go home the same day, however, patients who are found to have severe coronary artery disease are admitted to the inpatient unit to await open heart surgery, angioplasty or medical treatment.