Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Poem to Remember

Working as a cath lab nurse and Chest Pain Center coordinator, I’m always trying to invent new ways to get our team members tuned in to the importance of those first few minutes when caring for a patient presenting with acute coronary syndrome. I wrote this little rhyme to help us stay focused:

If you have chest pain, 
you will see, 
how we do an EKG.

It will be no more than 10, 
for time is muscle, 
say it again.

Time is muscle, 
look and see, 
if there is a high ST.

If it shows STs rising, 
call the lab and start advising.

The clock is ticking, 
so mind your minutes —
our goal of 90 is the limit.