• To support you to recognise and differentiate between the various types of acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
• To enhance your understanding of the assessment and management of ACS
• To count towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD, or you may wish to write a reflective account (UK readers)
• To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers)
Coronary heart disease is a leading cause of mortality, morbidity and hospitalisation in the UK and worldwide. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a serious manifestation of coronary heart disease. ACS encompasses several conditions that represent acute injury or damage to the myocardium, including ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), unstable angina and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Management may differ depending on the diagnosis, so prompt and accurate assessment is crucial to establish the patient’s condition and ensure timely initiation of the appropriate treatment. This article explains how ACS develops and what characterises its different types. It also outlines the assessment and management of patients with ACS, and explains the nurse’s role in these processes.
Nursing Standard. 37, 2, 69-75. doi: 10.7748/ns.2022.e11877
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondence Conflict of interestNone declared
Malecki-Ketchell A (2022) Acute coronary syndrome: role of the nurse in patient assessment and management. Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2022.e11877
Published online: 24 January 2022
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