Nurse led
innovative cardiac
procedure wins
award
A Tauranga Hospital nurse-led initiative which
has a skilled Cardiac nurse inserting heart
monitors in patients, freeing up Cardiologist for
more specialist procedures, has won an award
at the annual Cardiac Society of Australia and
New Zealand (CSANZ) scientific meeting.
Cardiac Catheter Laboratory (CCL) Nurse, Adrianne Escondo with the tiny ILR
a type of heart-monitoring device that records your heart rhythm continuously
long term.
Cardiac Catheter Laboratory (CCL) Nurse, Adrianne Escondo
became certified to insert implantable loop recorders (ILR) in heart
patients last year. And since then he has carried out 19 of these
procedures without complication. After insertion, patients are
followed by the Clinical Physiology Pacing team.
Traditionally the ILR procedure is carried out by Cardiologists.
The shift to a Cardiac nurse doing this procedure is a first in
Australasia.
Implantable loop recorders are small heart monitoring devices
implanted just under the skin in the chest. They are patient
or automatically activated and are typically used for patients
with unexplained heart palpitations, sudden light-headedness,
dizziness or fainting that are suspicious of irregular heart rhythms.
Information captured is used by Cardiologist to determine
diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.
Adrianne demonstrates how the ILR is inserted.
The nurse led initiative has resulted in a more efficient use of
resources within the CCL. Patient’s needing the procedure are
being seen much sooner and as the ILRs are now done in a non-
theatre environment that reduces patient anxiety. There’s also a
time saving factor for Cardiologist, giving them more availability
for other procedures. And the certification provides an excellent
opportunity for nurses to advance skills and provide optimal
patient management.
At this year’s Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand
(CSANZ) scientific meeting, recognition and awards we're given
for presentations showing profound research and innovation. The
nurse-led initiative won Adrianne the ‘Best Poster in Nursing’ award.
ILR poster – Adrianne with his winning poster at the CSANZ scientific meeting.
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