The Evolving Health-Care Environment: New Arguments for Closer Collaboration Between Cardiac Surgical Intensive-Care Nurses and Clinical Engineers

“Not vain the weakest, if their force unite.” Homer, Iliad (9th century, B.C.)

In today’s evolving health-care environment, the cardiac surgical intersive-care nurse is required to provide care to patients whose aculty levels are increasing. Simultaneously. These nurses are asked to use more technologically complex devices to deliver that care. In addition, practice protocols are being integrated into hospitals’ clinical information systems. To meet these challenges, cardiac surgical intensive-care nurses must collaborate with finical engineers on the evaluation and installation of new products and on the automation and refinement of clinical pathways and other outcomes measurement tools. Each discipline also must ensure that the other keeps pace with and maintains its level of proficiency in the technology used to care for patients undergoing cardiac surgery.