It takes more than bricks and mortar to create a successful cardiovascular surgery center. It takes a staff of highly trained, dedicated people.

For the past few months, members of the Cardiovascular Training Team, headed by Vanessa Hairston, RN, MSN, have been reviewing all the competencies, or skills, needed by the nurses, clinical associates, housekeeping, supply staff and others who will be working in the center.

"Once we identified the competencies, the team prepared a training plan for each group," Hairston says. "For some departments, this simply means modifying established protocols for new equipment. But for others, particularly in nursing, the training will be extensive."

Eleven additional RN positions have been added to staff the new CVICU, along with eight additional OR nurses. Nurses in anesthesia, pre- and post-op, telemetry, and step-down units will also undergo special training, in some cases being cross-trained with their current duties.

Training will begin in September, with assistance from education nurses from Duke University Health System. Classroom-training sessions will be conducted at Danville Regional Medical Center. The cardiovascular trainees then will travel to Duke University Medical Center for hands-on practicum experience.

Equipment and technique have evolved in cardiovascular surgery over the last decade. Equipment has been designed to hold the heart steady while the surgeon operates, reducing the need for heart-lung machines. Some valve replacement surgeries are made through a small incision between the ribs. New medicines and exercise techniques can help speed recovery. This constantly improving environment makes it an exciting time to open a new heart center, says Hairston.

Cardiovascular surgery demands that not only the technology but the caregivers' skill is of the highest level," says Hairston, "so training is an ongoing process. Our staff will undergo maintenance training throughout their careers to keep their skills sharp."