Cardiovascular Nursing Care
WakeMed has several cardiovascular nursing units, each offering different, specialized care to meet your needs. While you're here, you'll be under the watchful eye of our experienced health care professionals.
Heart Center Observation Unit - Pre- and Post- Procedural Care Area
Patients are cared for by our skilled cardiac care nurses. The unit is located near the Catheterization and Electrophysiology Labs and provides a place for each patient to prepare for and recover from a procedure. Most patients are discharged from this unit on the same day as their procedure.
Cardiothoracic Surgical Intensive Care Unit (CTICU)
The CTICU team cares for patients who have undergone a coronary artery bypass graft or heart valve replacement surgery. Patients come directly from the operating room to CTICU for recovery. The nurse/patient ratio is 1:1 or 1:2, depending on the patients' needs. All staff members complete complex training for this highly specialized unit.
Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) (2E)
The CVICU team 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.
Cardiovascular Intermediate Care (3B)
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 team in this unit specialize in caring for patients with heart failure. The nurse/patient ratio is 1:3 or 1:4, depending on the patients' needs.
Cardiology Intermediate Care (3A)
Patients in this 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.
Cardiovascular Surgical Intermediate Care (3E)
Patients who were previously in our CTICU "stepdown" to this unit to continue their care and recovery after their intensive care needs are met. The 3E teams 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.
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.