Cardiac Patient Care
Cardiac Patient Care - Related Videos
01:13
Patient-centered Care
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2023
Patient-centered care involves delivering care beyond inpatient hospitalization. Reflective practice can enhance a patient-centered approach. Reflective practice is a process of reasoning that considers all aspects of the present situation, including practicalities, learning from personal practice, and consideration of patient needs. Patients appreciate care decisions made while considering their input. Involving the patient in their care provides the patient with a sense of contribution rather...
07:39
Cardiac Exam I: Inspection and Palpation
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2023
Source: Suneel Dhand, MD, Attending Physician, Internal Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center The cardiac assessment is one of the core examinations performed by almost every physician whenever encountering a patient. Disorders of the cardiac system are among the most common reasons for hospital admission, with conditions ranging from myocardial infarction to congestive heart failure. Learning a complete and thorough cardiac examination is therefore crucial for any practicing physician.
07:16
Rapid Point-of-Care Detection of Pathogens for Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in ICU Patients
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2026
This protocol describes a fully integrated microfluidic chip-based LAMP method enabling point-of-care detection of 15 pathogens causing lower respiratory tract infections in ICU patients within one hour.
06:24
Cardiac Exam II: Auscultation
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2023
Source: Suneel Dhand, MD, Attending Physician, Internal Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Proficiency in the use of a stethoscope to listen to heart sounds and the ability to differentiate between normal and abnormal heart sounds are essential skills for any physician. Correct placement of the stethoscope on the chest corresponds to the sound of cardiac valves closing. The heart has two main sounds: S1 and S2. The first heart sound (S1) occurs as the mitral and tricuspid valves...
08:22
The Application of Point-of-Care Ultrasonography (POCUS) in the Management of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in the Intensive Care Unit
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2025
Here, we present a protocol for bedside POCUS application in ARDS management within the ICU. It details standardized techniques for lung, cardiac, diaphragm, venous, and gastric assessments to guide ventilation, predict weaning, and prevent complications.
FAQs
Findings are interpreted together rather than in isolation. Changes in vital signs, heart sounds, electrocardiograms, oxygenation, and fluid status can indicate altered perfusion or emerging deterioration, while symptoms provide essential patient context. Clinicians use this combined picture to prioritize monitoring, treatment, and escalation, helping ensure that interventions respond to the patient’s current cardiovascular status.
Fluid status is a key variable because it contributes to judging how effectively the circulation is being supported and whether the patient’s condition is changing. Alongside symptoms, vital signs, oxygenation, and other findings, it helps clinicians recognize patterns relevant to care. Repeated assessment makes it possible to compare the current picture with earlier observations and detect deterioration promptly.
Care priorities vary with the cardiovascular problem and the patient’s response. Heart failure may require close attention to fluid status and perfusion, coronary artery disease may prompt careful evaluation of symptoms and electrocardiograms, and arrhythmias make rhythm management especially relevant. These condition-specific emphases do not replace comprehensive assessment; they help clinicians connect findings with appropriate interventions.
An assessment sequence begins with symptoms and vital signs, then incorporates heart sounds, electrocardiograms, oxygenation, and fluid status. Clinicians synthesize these observations instead of treating any single measurement as sufficient. The resulting assessment supports decisions about medication administration, rhythm management, mobility support, education, and the need for closer observation during recovery or after an acute event.
Medication administration and rhythm management should be linked to ongoing assessment rather than performed as isolated tasks. Clinicians use the patient’s observed symptoms and cardiovascular findings to guide these interventions, while mobility support is incorporated into recovery planning. This coordinated approach is relevant after procedures or acute events, when monitoring and supportive care must remain aligned with changing needs.
Patient education extends care beyond the clinical encounter by connecting the treatment plan with lifestyle changes, follow-up, and recognizable warning signs. Explaining these elements supports self-management and helps patients understand when urgent attention may be needed. In cardiac practice, education serves as part of maintaining continuity between professional care and the patient’s daily decisions.