Cardiac and circulatory assessment in intensive care units

As healthcare delivery changes in critical care, nursing continues to evolve and develop. Nursing skills are expanding to incorporate skills once seen as the remit of the medical profession. Nurses are now equipping themselves with the skills and knowledge that can enhance the care they provide to their patients. Assessment of patients is a major role in nursing and, by expanding assessment skills, nurses can ensure that patients receive the care most appropriate to their needs. Nurses in critical care settings are well placed to carry out a more detailed assessment, which can help to focus nursing care. This article describes the step-by-step process of undertaking a full and comprehensive cardiac and circulatory assessment in a clinical setting. It identifies many of the problems that patients may have and the signs that the nurse may note whilst undertaking the assessment.