Introduction: The number of patients with atrial fibrillation is increasing. Due to the need for an effective method which would eliminate this heart arrhythmia, various treatment methods have been established, including drug therapies for the maintenance of sinus rhythm, electrical cardioversion and electrostimulation. Furthermore, ablation based treatment methods, such as the hybrid method, have also been developed. Purpose: The purpose of the diploma thesis is to present the hybrid approach to atrial fibrillation treatement and outline the role of a nurse before and after such procedure. Methods: The diploma thesis was prepared using the descriptive method with an overview of the Slovenian and foreign professional and scientific literature, while also using online collection databases, including Medline, CINAHL and Science Direct, and COBIB.SI catalogue database. The reviewed scientific papers, covering the period from 2007 to 2016, were collected using the remote access to Faculty of Health Sciences library resources. Discussion and conclusion: It was established that nurses have an important role in the hybrid treatment of atrial fibrillation since they prepare the patient and take care of them before and after the procedure. The preparation, which starts at the hospital ward, includes a psychological preparation of the patient, hygiene procedures, administration and bowel preparation. Even though complications do not occur often during such procedure, the risk cannot be entirely excluded. The most common complications include pericardial effusion which can results in cardiac tamponade, bleeding, phrenic nerve and blood vessel damage, thromboembolism and infection. It is important for a nurse to be familiar with all possible complications, to observe the patient, and monitor vital functions as well as any possible changes in the patient’s health status and immediately notifies the physician about any relevant changes. After the procedure, a nurse provides help in performing daily living activities, tailored to the individual patient’s needs. The nurse’s primary tasks are to relieve pain and ensure the patient’ safety, while also playing a dynamic role in providing health education to patients in order to prepare them for life at home after the discharge from hospital.
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