Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy Case Study

A Registered Nurse III with the Cardiovascular Progressive Care Unit completed a detailed interview based on her 10 years of experience of treatment of patients diagnosed with Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy. In this interview she discusses the patient’s treatment from the intake process, to the patient’s release from the hospital, and the challenges that arise during this treatment including the management of the patient’s withdrawal symptoms.

I began the interview with Kristen R.N. by asking her to discuss the typical intake process of an individual with Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy into the CVPCU. Kristen R.N. explained, the patient seeks medical treatment after experiencing signs and symptoms of heart failure through an emergency room visit.

The patient is continuously monitored, with the management of the cardiac and respiratory symptoms. As the progression managing heart failure with oxygen and medication to manage their heart rate and blood pressure and if they have an accumulation of fluids administer diuretics if administer u must evaluate intake and outputs of fluids. Monitoring Serial lab work including electrolytes kidney function liver funk cardiac markers BNP (look up something peptide) which is an indicator of heart

She explained, “that the severity of the patient’s symptoms is measured subjectively on The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol.” The CIWA includes nausea and vomiting, tremors, paroxysmal sweats, anxiety, tactile disturbances, auditory disturbances, visual disturbances, headaches, agitation, and orientation. Medical staff rates the patient subjectively on the CIWA scale from 0-7 with a maximum score of 67. An example of a CIWA is shown in Figure 1 from the book CURRENT Medical Diagnosis &