Differential diagnosis of chest pain.

The differential diagnosis of chest pain is a challenging clinical experience requiring a perceptive and observant clinician. The patient is dependent on the clinician's skill in eliciting a meaningful and relevant history. The clinician must consider reasonable alternative diagnoses while providing immediate therapies to relieve the pain and maintain patient stability. Appropriate diagnostic procedures should be pursued quickly and efficiently to treat the patient effectively.

The unification model: a collaborative effort.

The Rush unification model unites clinical practice with nursing education. In this system, nursing faculty possess joint responsibilities to the college of nursing and to a specific unit in the medical center. Collaboration among managers, clinical specialists, educators, and researchers leads to achievement of unit, college, and departmental goals. The collaborative process among the leadership group members in the medical intensive care unit, consisting of the unit leader, the assistant unit leader, the clinical nurse specialists, and the practitioner-teachers, is described in detail to show how utilization of the skills and strengths of each team member increases the benefits to the unit and the patient.