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Cardiac Assessment Strategies
Heart disease is the number one killer of American’s ages 35-65 (Slaughter, RN, 2002). This fact necessitates a thorough cardiac assessment. Recognizing cardiac abnormality is a subtle art that demands practice and study. ... Cardiac assessment ultimately begins, however, as soon as you meet your patient.
THE MEET AND GREET
Begin the assessment with a careful history taken from the client or a reliable historian. ... Also, pay special attention to any family history of cardiac dysfunction, including congestive heart failure, diabetes, and myocardial infarction. Include medication review in this part of your assessment. Many cardiac dysrythmias are results of medication interaction and are easily treated with a change in medication regimen.
THE EXAM
The physical component of the assessment should begin with a visual inspection of the patient. ... Physical signs of many cardiac disorders can assist in pinpointing an underlying pathology. ... Other physical signs of cardiac disorders include: arcus senilis, a light-colored ring around the colored part of the eye which may indicate hypercholesteremia, splinter hemorrhages of the nail beds which may indicate sub acute endocarditis and clubbing of the fingers and toes which may denote cor pulmonale, cyanotic congenital heart disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Dienhart [et al], 1997).
Approximate Word count = 983
Approximate Pages = 3.9
(250 words per page double spaced)
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