Angelica Tobias

Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital Plano
USA

Abstract Title: Enhancing Post-Cardiac Surgery Resuscitation: Implementing the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Guidelines for Improved Outcomes

Biography:

Angelica Tobias is a cardiovascular and critical care nurse with 20+ years of clinical and leadership experience. As an ECMO Specialist at BSW The Heart Hospital Plano, she focuses on high‑acuity care, team development, and evidence‑based practice. She has held roles such as charge nurse, educator, house supervisor, and committee chair, advancing professional growth and patient safety. A frequent regional speaker, she educates on advanced cardiac care, ECMO, and post‑surgical resuscitation. She holds an MSN in Nursing Management & Organizational Leadership from the University of Arkansas Grantham, and maintains CCRN, CMC, CSC, and CES‑A certifications.

Research Interest:

This project implements Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) resuscitation guidelines for post–cardiac surgery patients to address limitations of standard ACLS in this high-risk population. The goal is to improve patient safety, reduce complications, and strengthen staff confidence and performance through evidence-based, specialty-specific resuscitation practices. Educational strategies included video presentations, posters in post-surgical units, lectures, ICU internships, in-services, huddles, and individualized one-on-one sessions. These efforts supported consistent adoption of STS guidelines and reinforced clinical competence. Multidisciplinary stakeholders— including nursing leadership, cardiovascular surgery, the Code Blue committee, and the Staff Nurse Council—are collaborating to develop a consensus-based protocol across a five-unit hospital, three of which provide immediate post-cardiac surgery care. Outcomes were evaluated through analysis of 20 post-cardiac surgery code blue events comparing STS and ACLS protocols. Among 17 patients managed with ACLS, two died during resuscitation and five expired prior to discharge, with hospital lengths of stay ranging from 10 to 56 days. In contrast, all three patients managed with STS guidelines survived, were discharged home with shorter lengths of stay (6–9 days), required no return to the operating room or massive transfusion, and demonstrated faster return of spontaneous circulation with better neurological outcomes. These findings suggest that STS-guided resuscitation improves survival, shortens hospitalization, enhances recovery, and reduces complications. Overall, this initiative demonstrates that targeted, evidence-based resuscitation protocols supported by structured education and ongoing evaluation can elevate patient safety, clinical outcomes, staff confidence, and excellence in cardiac nursing practice.