St. Joseph's Cardiac Progressive Care Unit is the largest nursing unit in the health system.  It is often called 2 North (2NO) which gives an idea as to its location in the hospital - second floor on the north end.  Its 43 rooms have been newly remodeled to enable the patient to be in a private room while their heart rhythm is continuously monitored via telemetry transmission.  Patients admitted to this unit  typically have a diagnosis that is cardiac in nature:  post coronary bypass surgery, post stent placement, post cardiac catheterization, heart attack, congestive heart failure, heart rhythm abnormalities or patients with other diagnosis who have a significant history of heart disease. 

Nurses (RN and LVN) deliver care with a low patient-to-nurse ratio to allow closer assessment and monitoring of patients.  Nurses receive training and annual testing to verify their command of the skills and abilities to care for the cardiac patient.  As a result of using evidenced based practices, and in keeping with national standards for the major diagnoses, the average length of stay is short with each patient receiving comprehensive discharge support as they transition to a less acute level of care.