NURS 287 Study Guide - Final Guide: Sinus Rhythm, Peripheral Artery Disease, Natriuretic Peptide

• School: University of Calgary
• Department: Nursing
• Course: NURS 287
• Professor: Rick Nilson

Document Summary

When conducting a health assessment of the cardiovascular system, a thorough physical examination should include the following: Inspection of the skin, extremities, and the large veins of the neck. General appearance, vital signs, including orthostatic (postural) bps and hrs. Bilateral and simultaneous palpation of the upper and lower extremities. Bilateral and simultaneous palpation of the pulses in the extremities. Auscultation of carotid arteries, abdominal aorta, and femoral arteries. Auscultation of the heart with the bell and diaphragm of the stethoscope. Auscultation for extra heart sounds (s3 or s4) with the bell of the stethoscope. Inspection and palpation of the thorax, epigastric area, and mitral valve area. The most common procedures used to diagnose cardiovascular disease include the following: Exercise or stress testing: used to evaluate the cardiovascular response to physical stress. 6-minute walk test: used for patients with heart or peripheral arterial disease to measure response to medical interventions and determine functional capacity for daily physical activities.