STEMI Alert for Nurses

Course overview

This in-service course provides healthcare professionals with a comprehensive review of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI), a time-sensitive cardiac emergency requiring rapid identification and coordinated intervention. The course is designed for nurses working in the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, and Cardiac Catheterization Lab, emphasizing role-specific responsibilities and interdisciplinary collaboration. Participants will review the pathophysiology of STEMI, including coronary artery occlusion and myocardial ischemia, and learn to recognize classic and atypical clinical presentations. The course will focus on accurate ECG interpretation, early identification of ST-segment elevation, and the importance of adhering to critical time benchmarks such as door-to-ECG and door-to-balloon times. Evidence-based management strategies will be discussed, including initial pharmacologic interventions (e.g., aspirin, nitroglycerin) and reperfusion therapies such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Special attention will be given to nursing priorities in each clinical setting, including rapid triage in the ER, procedural support in the cath lab, and post-intervention monitoring in the ICU. The course will also address common complications such as arrhythmias, cardiogenic shock, and heart failure, along with appropriate nursing interventions to improve patient outcomes.