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A nurse-led rapid access chest pain clinic--experience from the first 3 years

Alison Pottle1

  • 1Cardiology Nurse Consultant, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust, Harefield Hospital, Hill End Road, Harefield, Middlesex, UB9 6JH, UK. A.Pottle@rbh.nthames.nhs.uk

European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
|June 2, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Nurse-led rapid access chest pain clinics (RACPC) provide timely assessment and diagnosis for patients with chest pain. This study shows nurses can successfully manage these clinics, ensuring high patient satisfaction and early cardiac disease detection.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Nursing Practice
  • Healthcare Management

Background:

  • Chest pain is a common and significant issue for primary care providers.
  • Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinics (RACPC) offer prompt evaluation and management for patients.
  • Harefield Hospital has operated a chest pain clinic since 1988, transitioning to nurse management in 2001.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the organization and outcomes of a nurse-run RACPC.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness and patient acceptance of nurse-led chest pain management.
  • To assess the diagnostic accuracy and patient safety in a nurse-managed clinic.

Main Methods:

  • Patients referred to the RACPC were seen within two weeks.
  • An electrocardiogram (ECG) was performed upon arrival.
  • The Nurse Consultant conducted patient examinations and determined further investigations.

Main Results:

  • 454 patients were seen between January 2001 and December 2003.
  • 71.4% underwent exercise testing, with 16.7% positive results.
  • 24.9% were referred for angiography, confirming coronary heart disease in 66.4% of those patients.

Conclusions:

  • Nurses can effectively manage RACPCs without compromising diagnostic accuracy.
  • These clinics ensure timely patient access for chest pain assessment and early cardiac disease diagnosis.
  • Patient satisfaction with the nurse-run RACPC service was high.
Abstract

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