Download Cardiac Rehab Student Internship

Cardiac Rehab Student Internship
Purpose: To provide the interested student experience working with cardiac rehabilitation patients and
learning about all aspects of a cardiac rehabilitation program. Two internships (8-10 weeks in length)
will be offered per year – Spring Semester and Summer.
Qualifications: Senior in an undergraduate Exercise Science program, or related field, or a graduate
student in Exercise Science program, with interest in pursuing a career in cardiac rehab and who has
completed the required coursework.
Required coursework (already completed or taking concurrently): Anatomy & Physiology (including
cardiovascular physiology); Exercise Physiology (with lab); Exercise Testing; Exercise Prescription; or
equivalent coursework. Applicants should have a 3.0 GPA in their major courses.
Preferred experience: Group Exercise/Exercise Leader (or has had some instruction in this as part of a
course); Exercise Testing
Responsibilities: Attending all clinical hours of the cardiac rehab program, including set-up, morning
report, classes, and follow-up report (MWF 6:15 am – 12:15 pm); Working as assigned at health fairs;
Complete case histories as assigned (see page 2).
How internship will benefit the student: By completing the internship, the student should gain
experience in the following areas:
Taking HR (resting and exercise)
Measuring BP (resting and exercise)
Use of HR monitors
Assisting with GXTs (including treadmill and bike protocols; 6-min. walks; submax tests)
Assisting with clinical VO2 testing
Basic diabetes information
Reading EKGs
Operating equipment
Exercise leadership/Group fitness
Strength and Flexibility Testing
Observing/assessing patients
Case History Guidelines
Include the following information in your case history:
1. Demographic information: Age, gender, ethnic group, occupation (if know), marital status,
height, weight, family history of disease. If any of this information is not available, state
“information unavailable”.
2. Medical and Surgical History: Past and present history. This should include a brief informative
summary of the current health status of the individual. Include symptoms and complaints,
medication use (prescribed and over the counter), past/current injuries.
3. Physical Exam: Review nursing section in chart for information such as blood pressure, heart
rate, grip strength, etc..
4. Laboratory Tests: Blood work (cholesterol, glucose tolerance, etc.), x-rays, dietary analysis,
diagnostic tests.
5. Physical Fitness/Functional Test Evaluation: Review anthropometric measures, stress tests,
etc. Describe the type of tests performed, review the resting, exercise, and recovery data.
Discuss the test end points and determine if the testing was adequate for the situation, safely
done, etc. Determine maximal aerobic capacity with appropriate calculations and/or actual test
data. Was the EKG normal or were there any abnormalities?
6. Behavior and Risk Factor Profile: Develop a CAD risk-factor profile (smoking habit, alcohol,
dietary patterns, physical activity patterns, family lifestyle (single, married, children, etc.).
7. Exercise Prescription: Calculate target heart rate ranges using HRR formula for 40%, 60%, and
85% of HR max using test data from the patient’s actual stress test. Show your calculations.
Calculate the patient’s body mass index (BMI) and discuss whether this is appropriate for the
patient, i.e. does this patient need to lose, gain, or maintain weight.
8. Progression: How did your patient do throughout the course of his/her cardiac rehabilitation?
Discuss changes in medications, workloads, MET levels, anthropometric measures, lipid and
glucose measures. If this patient needed to lose or gain weight, was he/she successful? Why?
Did this patient have any additional medical procedures or any setbacks during cardiac
rehabilitation?