A Psychiatric-Cardiac Case: Analysis for Education and Clinical Practice

Abstract

Psychiatric patients are now known to have disproportionately high cardiovascular disease mortality rates. Today's nurse needs more knowledge to manage the care of the psychiatric-cardiac patient. This paper uses a case scenario to cite essential components of care. Psychiatric-cardiac events are explained using a conceptual model. The model provides the nurse with a template for identifying needs and mapping the changes observed through therapy. The paper serves as an organizing tool for clinical practice and a case presentation for continued education of nurses.

Evaluation of nurses' perceptions of the impact of targeted depression education and a screening and referral tool in an acute cardiac setting

“…The screening and referral instrument not only allowed patients' depressive symptoms to be identified, it also provided a point of reference for discussion with other clinicians, including fellow nurses, cardiologists and the mental health team. As described by Nemcek and Austin (), actively seeking further information and knowledge in the clinical setting enriches the therapeutic relationship between nurse and patient.…”

“…). Today's nurses need more knowledge to successfully manage the intricacies of this well‐established comorbidity (Nemcek & Austin ).…”