Definition

Chest pain comes in many varieties, ranging from a sharp stab to a dull ache. Some types of chest pain can be described as crushing or burning. In certain cases, the pain travels up the neck, pierces through to the back or radiates down one or both arms.

Deciding the cause of chest pain is sometimes very difficult and may require blood tests, X-rays, CT scans and other tests to sort out the diagnosis. Often though, a careful history taken by the health care professional may be all that is needed to find the answer.

Assessment conducted in nursing care of chest pain include two things, namely the primary assessment and secondary assessment.

In the primary assessment as well as on the stage that the CPR would ABC is Airway, Breathing, Circulation. Although cardiopulmonary resuscitation phase is different when we examine a patient with chest pain. ABC is also included in assessment of primary studies are:

Airway

That we examine as a nurse, at this stage how the airway is among the sufferers airway clearance, if there is a blockage / buildup of secretions in the airway of patients, and how to breath sounds. Are there additional breath sounds, in these patients.

Breathing

That we examine in this case is: how breathing pattern of the patient, the frequency of respiratory rhythm as well as the depth and breath of the patient. Do people also use a respirator muscles, is there an additional breath sounds anyway?

Circulation

Which we examine in the circulation of patients with chest pain such as: vital signs which will include blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respiration, heart rate. Moreover studied were peripheral arteries and the carotid arteries of the quality (content and voltage), Then we also examine capillary refill, if there acral Coldness, cyanosis or oliguria. And also we examine whether there is a decrease in consciousness happens.

Secondary assessment on nursing care of chest pain. In this secondary assessment that we need to examine such as:

Chest Pain Location

Assessment of the location of pain may help in the diagnosis of chest pain whether it comes from the heart whether from other organs. Where to start, spreading (typical coronary chest pain: Chest pain started from sternal spread to the neck, chin or shoulder to left ulna).

Typical of Chest Pain

Typical chest pain from the heart such as: a feeling of fullness, heaviness such as seizures, squeezing, stabbing, choking / burning sensation. The sensation of chest pain will be felt differently in each patient’s coronary chest pain.

Characteristics of Chest Pain

Assessment in this section is the degree of pain, duration of pain, how often arise within a certain timeframe. This will help in the diagnosis of coronary heart disease.

Chronology of Chest Pain

The beginning there is pain, and the development sequence. The emergence of the current activity or whether at rest or sleeping.

The situation at the time of the attack

Are arise at times / conditions. Almost the same as mentioned above about the conditions at the time of chest pain attacks occurred.

Factors that reinforce / relieve pain such as posture / body position, movement, pressure. Is chest pain relieved with rest or not?