Behavior Following Acute Myocardial Infraction

Myocardial infarction is more than CCU's and monitors and antiarrhythmic drugs. It is also denial, anxiety, regression, fear, and depression. And it means that there is much that nurses can do in providing care from CCU admission to preparation for discharge home. The first of these authors discusses the emotional impact of the diagnosis “acute myocardial infarction” on the patient. One of their suggestions—to let the patient feed himself—is supported in the study by the authors Merkel and Brown which follows. But providing good care in a special care unit is not complete care if the patient is not prepared to care for himself at home. How to do this is the subject of the next paper by authors Hahn and Dolan.