Cardiac diagnostic testing: what bedside nurses need to know

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Nursing

Background:

• Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of death in the US, affecting over 385,000 individuals annually.
• The availability of noninvasive cardiac diagnostic tests has significantly increased.
• Nurses require up-to-date knowledge of these diagnostic tools.

Observation:

• Common noninvasive tests for diagnosing coronary heart disease include transthoracic echocardiography, stress testing (exercise, pharmacological, nuclear), multidetector computed tomography, coronary artery calcium scoring, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
• Each diagnostic method has specific indications, advantages, and limitations.
• Nursing considerations are crucial for patient care during these diagnostic procedures.

Findings:

• This review details available noninvasive methods for assessing coronary artery disease.
• It identifies optimal patient populations for each test.
• Advantages, limitations, and nursing considerations are discussed for each modality.

Implications:

• Enhanced understanding of noninvasive cardiac diagnostics can improve patient selection and care.
• Knowledge of these tests is vital for nurses managing patients with or at risk for coronary artery disease.
• Accurate and timely diagnosis through appropriate testing can lead to better patient outcomes.