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In the final episode of the CICU Bedside Foundations series, we’re putting it all together with Balancing Qp/Qs.

When caring for patients with single-ventricle physiology, understanding pulmonary and systemic blood flow is about more than memorizing numbers. This episode introduces a practical bedside framework built around five key components:

• Unobstructed systemic output
• Controlled pulmonary blood flow
• Unobstructed pulmonary venous return
• Ventricular function
• AV valve regurgitation

We’ll walk through each component and discuss how these pieces work together to help you interpret your patient’s physiology, recognize changes in circulation, and connect bedside assessment with the bigger picture.

The framework is informed by concepts described in Dr. Francis Fontan’s work on single-ventricle circulation (resource below)

This episode is designed to help you move beyond simply asking, “What’s the Qp/Qs?” and instead ask, “What is driving the balance in this patient—and what is changing?”

🎧 CICU Bedside Foundations
Where pediatric CICU bedside education meets everyday practice with clinical insight.

Resources:

Stern, H.J. Fontan “Ten Commandments” Revisited and Revised. Pediatr Cardiol 31, 1131–1134 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-010-9811-9

In Episode 3 of the CICU Bedside Foundations series, we’re building on cardiac output and single ventricle physiology to talk shunts—and what they mean at the bedside.

Rather than simply memorizing different shunt types, this episode introduces a practical framework for understanding why your patient needs a shunt in the first place, where the blood is flowing, what is driving that flow, and what could cause it to change.

We discuss common shunt pathways, including the BTT shunt, Sano conduit, and the PDA, and connect the anatomy back to the physiology you see at the bedside.

The goal: when you hear, “this patient has a shunt,” you know the next questions to ask.

Because understanding why the shunt is there helps you recognize what your patient needs—and what deterioration might look like—before the numbers tell the whole story.

🎙️ CICU Bedside Foundations
Episode 1: Cardiac Output
Episode 2: Single Ventricle Physiology
Episode 3: Shunt Physiology
Next up: Balancing Qp/Qs

What changes when one ventricle has two workloads?

In the second episode of the CICU Bedside Foundations Series, we break down single ventricle physiology through a practical bedside lens—moving beyond the anatomy to understand where the blood is going, how well the single ventricle is functioning, and what your patient needs from you.

We’ll explore the key questions every bedside nurse should be asking:

❤️ Is my patient currently in a one-ventricle or two-ventricle circulation?
❤️ How well is the single ventricle functioning?
❤️ How much AV valve regurgitation is present, and how is that affecting the workload?
❤️ Is my patient telling me I need to increase pulmonary blood flow, improve systemic blood flow, or increase overall cardiac output?

Because in single ventricle physiology, one pump is supporting two competing circulations. Understanding that relationship helps us move beyond chasing a saturation and start asking the bigger question:

Where does the blood need to go—and does the heart have enough total cardiac output to support both the lungs and the body?

What does cardiac output actually look like at the bedside—and how do we recognize when it’s starting to fall?

In Episode 1 of the CICU Bedside Foundations Series, we break cardiac output down into the pieces that matter most for bedside pediatric cardiac nurses. We’ll connect heart rate and stroke volume with the factors that influence forward flow, including preload, afterload, and contractility.

We also take it one step further by connecting cardiac output to oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption —because moving blood forward only matters if we’re delivering enough oxygen to meet the body’s needs.

Most importantly, we bring it back to the bedside: What does low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) actually look like? We discuss the assessment findings, trends, and early signs that should make you pause, reassess, and escalate concern before your patient significantly deteriorates.

This episode kicks off our 4-part CICU Bedside Foundations Series, created in collaboration with Heart University (HU), where we’re building the physiologic foundation needed to understand increasingly complex congenital heart disease.

Learn more about HU here! Heart University

What is anesthesia? Just a bunch of different medications that put people to sleep? Maybe, but if you would like to learn more from two Cardiac Anesthesiologists, please join us in a valuable discussion around the teamwork between ICU bedside RNs and Cardiac Anesthesiologists. Oh did I mention that this is just Part 1 of a 2 Part series?

An arterial blood gas (ABG) isn’t just numbers—it’s how the heart and lungs are coping right now. In cardiac kids, tiny shifts in pH, CO₂, and oxygen can completely change physiology. 

ABGs don’t just tell us how the lungs are ventilating—they tell us how the heart is surviving. Join Ryan and I as we break down the ABG!

Turn Podcasts into reflective learning opportunities that reward you with CME/CE with SapienCE. 

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In this episode, two experienced CICU nurses, Katie and Ashley, share their journeys from bedside RN to heart mom, opening up about diagnosis, surgery, and the emotional complexity of caring deeply while letting go of control. A raw and meaningful conversation about empathy, resilience, and the power of lived experiences.

Disclaimer: This episode reflects personal experiences and is not intended as medical advice.

What happens when a pediatric CT surgeon steps into the CICU bedside for a full 12-hour shift?

In this episode, I’m joined by a Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgeon and a DNP APRN as we discuss the shadow experience of the CICU bedside role—to explore perspectives across roles and the power of true collaboration. We talk about the surgeon’s mindset, what surprised them most about bedside nursing, and how to maximize the medical team to change patient's outcomes.

We also dive into the often-unseen work of CICU nurses and the “X factor” that sets exceptional bedside nurses apart—intuition, adaptability, and presence in high-stakes moments. This episode is about shared respect, learning each other’s worlds, and strengthening the team around our most vulnerable patients.

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Let’s talk Glenn—from the bedside. This episode walks through Glenn physiology in a way that actually makes sense when you’re standing at the bedside, watching sats hover in the 70s, and wondering “is this expected or is something wrong?” We connect the dots between anatomy, circulation, and bedside nursing decisions—what to watch, what to question, and how to advocate with confidence.

Did you know??? Today, 75% of Healthcare Professionals listen to podcasts for educational learning. Turn Podcasts into reflective learning opportunities that reward you with CME/CE with SapienCE. 

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Today, 75% of Healthcare Professionals listen to podcasts for educational learning. Turn Podcasts into reflective learning opportunities that reward you with CME/CE with SapienCE. 

SapienCE is a nurse-centric learning platform transforming how you learn, think, and grow. Listen to this episode as I chat with Wendy and Karen about "the Act of Reflection" in your everyday nursing practice.

Research Discussed: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2022.103481

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