Profile of a Member: Ann Harvey
Chicago Chapter Leader
Describe a typical day, what are the biggest challenges, what are some of your favorite moments, what is most rewarding for you?
Three days a week I go to two different hospitals. In the morning, I do the history and physicals on all the low risk chest pain patients and order their stress tests if needed. I then go to my second hospital and round on inpatients. Every other week I have my outpatient clinic in the afternoon. One day a week I have an all-day outpatient CV clinic and sometimes I cover stress tests in our CV clinic.
The biggest challenge is taking enough time with each patient while doing history and physicals or daily follow up visits in the hospital. I never want to appear to be in a rush.
It is most rewarding when I take the time to get to know each patient and have time to do some teaching as needed or answer any questions they may have at the time. I have met some very interesting people from all walks of life and always get something meaningful and learn from every encounter.
How did you become a CV nurse?
I started out as an ICU RN working in the CCU and the MICU in an academic teaching hospital. While I was there I received my Masters in Nursing as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) and started working at a community hospital. As a CNS, I oversaw the CCU, step down telemetry unit, and ER. This is where I found my passion for cardiovascular nursing. There was so much you can do to help your patients and see most of them improve with treatment and education about their condition. Cardiology is a diverse field in that you can interpret stress tests, review 2D echocardiograms and coronary angiogram procedures, and treat an acute myocardial infarction and see positive results immediately.
What advice would you give to those just starting off in their nursing careers? What accomplishments are you most proud of in your career?
Enjoy the diversity of your job and listen to your patients. I have thoroughly enjoyed being an RN. It is a great career in that we are one of the most important people that care for the patient. We know and understand the patient as a person along with their disease process and how it is affecting their bodies and their lives. The RN approaches each patient in a holistic manner, taking care of not only of the patient but their families and significant others.
I am proud of the fact that I have advanced my career to become a Nurse Practitioner. There are very difficult days but overall it is very rewarding and never boring.
What is you favorite thing about PCNA?
I have met outstanding people since I have been part of PCNA. It is an excellent way to network and I always received encouragement to excel in my field.
I use the PCNA Heart Healthy Toolbox with all my patients, inpatient or outpatient. The Fall and Spring lecture series are always beneficial to my practice.
Do you have a favorite heart healthy recipe or tip to share?
I am a vegan so Post Punk Kitchen is a great site for healthy recipes…so many recipes, so little time! (www.ppk.com). Their mac and cheese recipe is my favorite, and you can add any vegetable into this recipe.