Cardiac Assessment Checklist

A cardiac assessment is the evaluation of the condition, function and abnormalities of the heart and circulatory system. Physicians may perform cardiac assessments after a patient describes characteristics of chest pain, physical weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, fever, coughing, wheezing and palpitations. This assessment may also be required before surgery or once patients reach a certain age.

Blood Pressure

• To begin a cardiac assessment, the physician takes the patient's blood pressure reading. Systolic is the top reading and diastolic is the bottom reading. For adults, normal systolic (the maximum pressure exerted on the arterial wall during ventricular contraction) registers between 95 to 140 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Normal diastolic (the pressure in vasculature during ventricular relaxation) registers between 60 to 90 mmHg. Blood pressure readings in a child range from 60 to 90 over 30 to 60 mmHg by age.

Inspection

• Visible inspection in the cardiac assessment consists of looking at the chest area and recording heaves, lifts and pulsations.

Palpation

• Palpations are evaluated by placing one finger at the mid-clavicular line. In women, this is found under the breast tissue, and in men, at the top of the abdomen. Physicians time each palpation and the rhythm of the palpation.

Auscultate

• Auscultate is simply the sounds of the heart as heard through a stethoscope. Doctors listen to the patient's heart while the patient is sitting and lying down.

Peripheral Vascular Assessment

• The cardiac assessment includes the peripheral vascular assessment. Patients sit and have palpate pulses recorded. In this part of the assessment, the patient must hold her breath for a short period of time for the physician to listen for bruits, an unusual sound that blood makes when it rushes past an obstruction in an artery. Physicians also assess circulation by checking the warmth and dryness of the patient's skin.