SPEAKER_00 0:06

Hello everyone and welcome back to the Nightingale Project Podcast. Today, we're joined by Chelsea Saddler, a cardiac coordinator in Baltimore, Maryland. With experience in emergency nursing and leadership in cardiovascular care, Chelsea works to improve patient outcomes, educate communities, and support healthcare teams. We'll be discussing her nursing journey, the importance of heart health, and the impact nurses make every day.

SPEAKER_01 0:41

Hello. Hi, how are you? I'm good. How are you? Good. Thank you for having me. Of course, thank you for joining us. Um, so what's your name?

SPEAKER_02 0:53

Briefly introduce yourself.

SPEAKER_03 0:55

Sure, sure. So my name is Chelsea Sadler. I am a cardiac nurse program coordinator. Um, I became a nurse in 2018. I started in the ER. Um I always kind of wanted to be an ER nurse. I really just love that whole vibe of uh emergency nursing and the fast pace. Uh so that's really what kind of pushed me in that direction. So yeah, I really love the fast pace, like pressured environment. Um and I, of course, wanted to go right to Baltimore City. Um, and the hospital that I worked in actually specialized in uh cardiovascular care. So I just really learned quickly like how cardiac events could change somebody's life and how heart disease really affected each area in our body. So uh that experience just really drew me into uh cardiac nursing.

SPEAKER_02 1:53

I'm not super familiar with what you know cardiac coordinators do. So could you explain what does like a typical day look like for you?

SPEAKER_03 2:02

And so uh my day is really a mix of things. Um, you know, as a program coordinator, you kind of have your hands in every area of the cardiac program. So that's inpatient, outpatient. Um, it's the procedural, it really just includes everything. Um, but most importantly, and my role is reviewing cases and tracking our quality metrics and making sure that we are meeting the standards uh required by the state, but also that we are providing the best patient or best uh outcomes to our patients. Yeah. So we want to make sure that we are tracking that all of our patients are getting the correct items ordered, that they're all getting the same standard of care. And if there are any misses, then I find that I make sure that it's corrected, or if there's a problem within our metrics, I'm creating new processes to improve our care delivery. You know, just making sure everything runs smoothly. So when a patient comes in, especially in urgent situations, the team's ready, aligned, and we can provide the best care with the highest standard and the best outcomes.

SPEAKER_02 3:20

That's fascinating. Oh my goodness. So you, of course, have a background in emergency nursing. How would you say that experience has shaped the way you approach patient care today?

SPEAKER_03 3:34

Well. Emergency nursing, man, uh, it'll teach you a lot and quickly. Um so you really learn how to critically think and prioritize under pressure. Um, you learn how to stay calm in the chaos around you. It reinforces the importance of teamwork, communication, and that's with, you know, outpatient providers, um, you know, family, EMS. You're communicating with all these outlets to, you know, learn about one person. Um it really does carry, those skills really do carry over into everything I do now. So it does, it does shape you uh completely. And they always say, like, once you're an ER nurse, you're always an ER nurse. Um and especially in cardiac care, like minutes matter. If somebody comes up with a heart attack, you know, we track all those time um minutes from time of arrival, when they get their EKG, when they're able to come into the cath lab, um, and to make sure that they're able to restore flow into your heart and that you're being perfused. So it it really, really did help, you know, show me how critical like those small minutes really do matter.

SPEAKER_02 4:55

That sounds so high pressure and so like things could just like go wrong at any moment, obviously. Um, you know, emotions can be high with patients and families. Um, how do you stay calm and focused during those critical situations?

SPEAKER_03 5:15

Um so I rely heavy heavily on my training um and teamwork. I really always try to make sure I stay up to date with all the current practices. Um, I think in that kind of setting, you always need to make sure you're prepared and prepped for anything and everything. Um and when you do that, you really uh set yourself up for success. So, you know, your whole team has really practiced and prepped for all of this. You're able to really shift your mindset to focus rather than panic. And I try to stay grounded and in that moment and focus on what is the next right step. I always have a motto when I am uh, you know, that drives my practice. And it's, you know, what is best for the patient. I really try to bring it back and think about that. So when I shift my focus that way, I'm able to really make clear decisions and know that I did the best I could for each person, and that's really the most that anybody could ask for.

SPEAKER_02 6:23

And I think, of course, your patients probably appreciate your your calm in the storm.

SPEAKER_03 6:29

Yeah, yeah. So sometimes they're like, Well, why aren't you freaking out? And I'm like, look, if I'm freaking out, then we got a problem. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:40

So you are a cardiac nurse, which um actually ties in perfectly with the Miss America organization's partnership with the American Heart Association. We are trying to spread awareness about, you know, misconceptions in heart health and you know how heart can de how heart disease can portray different in women versus men. So, in your opinion, what are some of the biggest misconceptions people can have about heart health or cardiovascular disease?

SPEAKER_03 7:11

So I really love that. Um, I really could spend all day discussing this. Um, I'll try not to. Uh, but I uh feel that heart disease is not nearly recognized, treated, or discussed enough. Um, heart disease has remained the number one cause of death now for over a hundred years.

SPEAKER_01 7:30

I know.

SPEAKER_03 7:31

Um, which is insane. And most people don't know that, which is insane. Yeah. Um, you know, it's not inclusive to only older men. It impacts people of all ages and leading cause of death for women as well. And women present with different symptoms um than men, but still, you know, just as important. And the big thing is most people delay in seeking treatment, which causes those bad outcomes. So we have a saying in um, you know, the cardiac world, it's called time is muscle. So when you're having a cardiac emergency, you know, those minutes count if you're having a heart attack because your muscle tissue is not able to get blood, and that tissue is dying. And once it dies, there's no bringing it back. So that's why it's so important to get that care quickly. I, you know, also kind of believe as a society, we almost have accepted uh heart disease as like a social norm. And we need to reverse that. Um, you know, people with high blood pressure, they're like, oh yeah, I got high blood pressure. Um that's not normal. And that leads to a lot of things, and it's actually treatable. Um, you can treat it with some minor things. So I think making I think it's so prevalent that it's almost too normal, but there's this whole side that we could fix it as well. So this year, uh obviously I'm very passionate about this. Um this year, I created an acronym um to help people remember the signs and symptoms of a heart emergency. It's called attack. Um, so A, arm pain, T, tightness of chest, T, trouble breathing, A, abdominal pain or nausea, C, cool or clammy skin, and then K keep calm and call 911. So I'm working with the Maryland Cardiac Consortium to promote this education and hopefully like decrease that uh mortality rate because people are seeking care earlier when they're having these symptoms. So a lot of times people are coming in, they're like, I've had, you know, chest pain, you know, fatigue or abdominal pain for a week. So, but that's the thing, you know, cardiac emergencies, they don't always present as these major grand events. They can be very subtle. They can not seem that bad. They can it can feel like heartburn. So it's very important if people are having these symptoms that they get checked out.

SPEAKER_02 10:24

Absolutely. And I think in the media we're also always taught that like it's always this like gripping your chest, like falling to the floor, when in reality it can present in totally different ways than that. Yeah. I mean, women have leg pain. Yeah, it's absolutely fascinating that this is not more discussed. Yes, yes, absolutely. So on the same line of heart health, what would you suggest is the best patient education for preventing heart-related emergencies? And what advice do you find yourself giving most to others?

SPEAKER_03 11:05

Um, you know, for me, patient education is everything. Um, you know, knowledge is power. And when you work with patients day in and day out, you know, you don't you start to learn what people really don't know. And uh healthcare as a whole has really become overconsumed with patients and less help. So everything's kind of rush, rush, rush. It's just, you know, been a whole process for everybody. But um, you know, taking that time to really explain to patients and have them understand, you know, what signs and symptoms that they need to look for and what to do when they recognize them, like calling 911 right away, is going to make a huge difference, um, especially in patient outcomes. You know, it's gonna make life-changing, a life-changing difference. Um another area where I emphasize so much is um I want patients to know their numbers, their blood pressure, their cholesterol, their blood glucose. And I always tell them, like, these are all treatable. These are all treatable areas. And they patients are always so shocked when they hear that, you know. They just think, oh, I got diabetes, you know, everybody in my family had it. Well, you don't have to have diabetes and small changes, diet, exercise, stress management, that can make such a huge difference over time, and it can add years and years onto your life.

SPEAKER_02 12:51

Yeah, that's incredible. So obviously, you are doing a lot of informing for your patients and you know, giving them a lot of advice. But I find that often nurses have to become advocates for the patients and patients' families during these difficult moments, like a cardiac event. What does advocacy mean to you personally and to you as a nurse?

SPEAKER_03 13:18

Um, for me, um, it's really being the voice for the patient, especially when they can't fully understand or they're, you know, not understanding what's happening, um, or they don't feel like they're not even able to speak up. Um, it's being able to kind of recognize those cues and and step in and make sure that the patient understands fully or let the care team know what is happening. So we're able to make a care plan based off of what is happening in that moment. You know, we always, at least all the medical teams that I work with, we always want to make sure that the patient receives the best possible care. I want to know their concerns. I want to know what they're worried about. I want to know that their values are being respected. Um, and sometimes it can just take a small conversation with some clarifying information and speaking up to the care team, and it just makes a huge difference in the patient's day. And it's really just about putting the patient first.

SPEAKER_02 14:28

Absolutely. I found that as a patient many times, the little moments are the things that really make the experience better.

SPEAKER_03 14:37

Right. Nobody wants to be sick, nobody wants to be in the hospital, you know, nobody. And I always tell them, like, look, I don't want to be here either. But but we're here together and we're gonna make the best of it.

SPEAKER_02 14:48

Absolutely. So obviously, nurses have a lot of work. Um, you know, you give so much emotionally and physically. How do you best protect your own mental health and avoid burnout?

SPEAKER_03 15:05

Um, so this can be very hard. I I try very hard to set boundaries, but I I truly love what I do. So it can be hard. It doesn't feel so much like work to me. But I will say healthcare, especially in emergency nursing, can be emotionally and physically demanding. So it's important to step away when you can and lean on your support system, you know, ground yourself, find things outside of work that you enjoy, you know, set up those boundaries and really make sure that you are doing self-care. It's so incredibly important.

SPEAKER_02 15:45

It is very important. And I mean, people always say that if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life. But I think that is absolutely not the case with nurses. I think they work, I think you all work every single day.

SPEAKER_03 15:59

Yes, yes. And I always like when we're out with friends, I'm always like, don't tell anybody I'm a nurse because everybody's gonna ask you questions.

SPEAKER_02 16:07

Oh my gosh, I can imagine people are like, you know, what's this mole?

SPEAKER_03 16:12

Like, yes, yes. It's always like, I had this little cough, you know. I'm like, okay, I don't know what you want me to do.

SPEAKER_02 16:21

So of course the healthcare system is flawed. What kind of changes would you like to see in the future of nursing and cardiovascular health care?

SPEAKER_03 16:32

Well, um, a lot. I'd love to see more of an emphasis really on prevention um and accessibility. Uh I it's hard out there on both ends. Um, I can see from both sides that uh the pressure that each side is feeling with um the consumer and the healthcare system. Um, you know, calling to make an appointment and they don't have any availability for a year, and you have to get patients in and out, and you got to meet this quota, and there's not enough doctors to patients. So I think that's where prevention comes in. And I think that's where we have lacked in years, and that is why there are so many more patients versus doctors. So it kind of all made it a domino effect. So we really need to amp up the prevention side and having that education and um, you know, getting out there in the community and making sure that those resources are available, and then that should help with the burden for the inpatient side.

SPEAKER_02 17:43

Yeah, absolutely. I think that prevention is such an easy fix, but it's just a fix that no one talks about, and it's something that is just not well not well known, but you know, it's not something that's really like everybody's too busy treating. Yeah, and it's not something that's really like announced to the public, like you really like you can treat this, or like you really have to watch your blood pressure or your glucose. Like, yeah, it's it's so interesting.

SPEAKER_03 18:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 18:18

So for young people like myself interested in nursing or healthcare leadership, what advice would you give them before entering the field?

SPEAKER_03 18:28

Uh, go in with an open mind and a willingness to learn. Um, you will learn every single day. You will never not be learning. Um, and if you feel like you're not learning, then you should move to a different role. Every experience will shape you. Um, there's no other job like nursing. You will see the world and through a different lens. Don't be afraid to ask questions. You know, don't be afraid to step into challenges. That's how you're gonna learn. You know, take the critical patient. Don't don't hesitate on that. But also have some confidence. You know more than you think. When you're in those situations, you know, you you think about things and you're like, oh, actually, I do remember this. I do know what to do. Create strong relationships and a good foundation. You know, healthcare is a team effort, and find those people you can lean on to discuss, you know, different cases and figure out why X equals Y, you know, to really put it all together and see the big picture. Um, it's demanding, but it's incredibly rewarding. Um, there's so many opportunities in nursing, and you can make such a difference. You really, really can. And I think having those opportunities for our newer nurses coming up, it's really important that they're shown those opportunities and what changes they can make so they don't feel burnt out and get into the bedside burnt out mode of uh, I don't even feel like I'm doing anything. I'm just pushing policies. You know, you can get to a point where you're helping create the policy and the procedure to make that difference.

SPEAKER_02 20:25

Well, thank you so much. This has been incredibly informative and so entertaining.

SPEAKER_00 20:32

Um, thank you so much. Yeah, thank you. Thank you for joining us for this conversation with Chelsea Sadler. Her dedication to patient advocacy, education, and cardiovascular health highlights the incredible impact that nurses have both inside and outside the hospital. Be sure to subscribe and follow the Nightingale Project for more conversations celebrating and supporting the nursing profession.