Theme 5: Coordination of the diagnostic examinations for efficient clinical management of the patient with heart failure
The justification and prescriptions of the diagnostic tests for a patient with a heart failure in a clinical setting is within the jurisdiction of the physician. The nurse’s basic responsibility is to oversee that the diagnostic procedures are executed and the results are available for the interpretation by the physician in order for the physician to adjust the treatment accordingly. The most common diagnostic tests are the chest x-rays, Electro-Cardio Graph (ECG) and the laboratory blood tests. The nurse’s responsibilities towards these tests are explained in the next sessions [9].
Chest x-ray and ECG: The chest x-ray is ordered to rule out the enlargement of the heart and pulmonary congestion, especially when the patient suffers from left heart failure. Likewise, the ECG would detect the abnormalities of heart contractions as may be indicated by deviant ECG graphs. Therefore, on reception of such results, the nurse has to inform the physician on the availability of the results for punctual initiation or adjustment of medical treatment [1,3,4].
Laboratory blood tests: Full Blood Count (FBC), Urea and Electrolytes (U&E) are the most ordered blood tests for heart failure [1,4]. The purpose of Full Blood Count is among others, to verify the quantity of the red blood cells to ensure oxygen carrying capacity of the body to counteract hypoxia which is eminent in patient with heart failure. White blood cells are monitored to rule out low immunity and the risk for potential infection as a result of low metabolism that prevails in heart failure. The Urea is monitored to rule out possible retention of urea and other metabolic wastes owing to low venous return, a phenomenon which can cause metabolic acidosis. Electrolytes are monitored to rule out the imbalances of both the intracellular and extracellular electrolytes, the imbalances of which can risk arrhythmia and heart arrest since the heart is already in a failure status. Nevertheless, on reception of the blood results, the nurse should be able to interpret the results against the given laboratory references and identify the cases that need emergency attention of the physician [9].