Cardiovascular Diseases: "We sometimes have patients aged 20 to 30..."

Joanne Bettebelle has been a nurse for 20 years. For the past year and a half, she has been assigned to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU), a specialized unit for heart problems that treats emergency patients requiring intensive care. The unit has limited capacity and operates as a mixed team. "Work is always done in teams. No one works alone because cases are often complicated," she explains.

After the handover between day and night teams, nurses provide not only medical care, treatments, meals, and personal hygiene for patients but also psychological support. "They know they are in an emergency unit and that their case is serious. They need reassurance," adds Joanne Bettebelle.

Emergencies are handled on a case-by-case basis, as each patient presents unique complications. Most patients are women over fifty, a time when heart problems become more common post-menopause. Men generally fall into the same age group, but younger cases are increasingly reported. "We sometimes have patients aged 20 to 30, and sometimes even younger than 40. It’s surprising and much more common than before," she confides.

With her experience in various departments, including Casualty and Surgical ICU, Joanne Bettebelle is not afraid of critical situations. "I am more surprised by the youth of some patients than frightened by the cases themselves," she asserts. She emphasizes the guidance and solidarity among nursing staff: "We are well-informed and well-supervised."

Since childhood, she has been passionate about caring for others. An ex-scout, she has received first aid training. "I have always wanted to be a nurse or a teacher, and I was fortunate to pursue the profession I truly love," she shares.

Sidique Soutehnah has over 33 years of service. He started as a Health Care Assistant, then pursued nursing training before working in various departments: health centers, Surgical ICU, and then SAMU for ten years. He also worked as a Biomedical Technician before joining the Cardiac Unit, particularly in the Cath Lab, where angiographies and pacemaker insertions are performed.

In this specialized unit, he explains that nurses undergo continuous training to enhance their skills. "It’s the nurses who provide initial care. Doctors intervene afterward to give instructions as needed," he specifies.

For the Soutehnah family, nursing is a family tradition. "My older brother was a nurse before me, and my younger brother also trained as a nurse. Our parents always wanted us to pursue this profession," he reveals.

Despite daily challenges, Sidique Soutehnah views his profession as a "blessed job," a vocation filled with gratitude. "We receive many blessings from our patients," he states.

He also highlights the good rapport within the team: "Absenteeism is minimal, and in case of absence, everything is organized to ensure continuity of service." Continuous training also allows for the easy reintegration of staff transferred to other departments.