Cardiovascular Nursing Care
During your stay at WakeMed, you may be taken from the WakeMed Heart Center's building to one of the following cardiovascular nursing care units located in our main hospital, depending upon the type of cardiac care you need. While you're here, you'll be under the watchful eye of our experienced health care professionals.
Heart Center Observation Unit
Pre- and post-cardiac catheterization patients are cared for by our skilled cardiac care nurses. The unit is located near the Catheterization Labs and provides a place for each patient to prepare for and recover in relative privacy in one of 41 beds on the unit. Most patients are discharged from this unit on the same day as their procedure.
Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit (CTSU)
This is a 12-bed unit that cares for patients who have undergone a coronary artery bypass graft or heart valve replacement surgery. Patients come directly from the operating room to CTSU for recovery. The nurse/patient ratio is 1:1 or 1:2, depending on the patients' needs. All staff members complete very complex training for this highly specialized unit.
Cardiac Care Unit (CCU)
This is an 18-bed coronary intensive care unit that provides constant monitoring and specialty care for cardiac patients with life-threatening or potentially life-threatening conditions. The nurse/patient ratio is 1:1 or 1:2 depending on the patient's needs. All RN staff members are trained with advanced cardiac life support skills. Each private room features a large safety glass window, allowing direct nursing observation and bedside monitoring.
Cardiac Care Unit - Step Down
In this eight-bed cardiac intermediate step-down care unit located immediately adjacent to the CCU, continuous 24-hour bedside monitoring is provided to patients who have undergone post interventional cardiology procedures and to cardiology patients who are ready for transfer from CCU. Patients may require specialty IV drips. The nurse/patient ratio is 1:3 or 1:4, depending on the patients' needs.
6A Cardiology Intermediate Care (6A)
This 38-bed, all-private-room medical cardiology unit provides 24-hour continuous cardiac telemetry monitoring with a focus on intermediate care for cardiac patients requiring multiple, specialty IV infusions.The unit also contains eight hard-wire beds that provide the capability for continuous bedside cardiac monitoring in addition to telemetry monitoring. The nurse/patient ratio is 1:3 or 1:4, depending on the patients' needs.
3A Cardiology Intermediate Care (3A)
Patients in this 41-bed medical cardiology unit receive 24-hour continuous telemetry heart monitoring where inpatient and outpatient/observation patients may be recovering from interventional cardiology procedures. Patients may also receive specialty IV infusions. The nurse/patient ratio is 1:3 or 1:4, depending on the patients' needs.
3B Cardiovascular Surgical Intermediate Care (3B)
In this "step-down" unit from CTSU, cardiac surgery patients can continue their care after transfer from the CTSU. The 3B unit also cares for vascular surgery patients, such as those who have had surgery or procedures on their carotid arteries. The nurse/patient ratio is 1:4 or 1:3 depending on the patients' needs.
Chest Pain Observation Unit (CPU)
A 12-bed observation unit for patients who require close monitoring to determine the cause of their chest pain or heart-related problems. The nurse/patient ratio is 1:3 or 1:4 depending on the patients' needs.
If you think you are having a heart attack or have pain in your chest, WakeMed Emergency Departments are equipped to provide the urgent, specialized care you need. At any time of the day or night, patients receive immediate medical attention using the most advanced technology for diagnosis and treatment.