PTCA: the role of the angioplasty program nurse.

Developing a program to provide continuity of care for patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) for coronary artery disease was the major task of the Angioplasty Program Nurse at the Sunnybrook Health Science Centre. To assist the patient and their family throughout the course of treatment and to offer strategies and resources for risk factor reduction required development of a patient assessment tool with clearly defined goals and objectives for documentation. Helping patients set realistic expectations in terms of procedural outcome and lifestyle modification is an important part of patient education and health promotion. Short hospital stays require good planning and comprehensive educational strategies in order to meet patient teaching outcomes. Evaluation is an important component of any program and having well defined goals and objectives with measurable outcomes aids the process.