Brain natriuretic peptide: what the nurse needs to know
Intended for healthcare professionals
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Brain natriuretic peptide: what the nurse needs to know

Christopher Nicholson Integrated respiratory service team leader, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Burnley, England
Rationale and key points

Brain natriuretic peptide is a chemical secreted when the heart is under strain. It is sampled by a blood test. This article informs nurses about how brain natriuretic peptide can be used as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for patients with cardiac conditions.

A brain natriuretic peptide level within the normal range in a patient who is not receiving treatment almost certainly rules out a significant cardiac condition.

An elevated brain natriuretic peptide level suggests an active cardiac condition and further investigations are indicated, usually an electrocardiogram and echocardiogram.

A highly elevated brain natriuretic peptide level is a marker for a more severe prognosis.

Nursing Standard. 31, 38, 56-59. doi: 10.7748/ns.2017.e10224

Correspondence

Christopher.Nicholson@elht.nhs.uk

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

Conflict of interest

None declared

Received: 15 July 2015

Accepted: 09 March 2016

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