Chest Pain Assessment: What to Do When Your Patient Has Chest Pain

Maybe the cause of the chest pain is nothing more than indigestion, a muscle strain, or some other innocuous problem. However, chest pain can potentially point to a more serious and life-threatening cause, such as an acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

For this reason, chest pain must always be considered cardiac in nature until proven otherwise.

Note: This article is intended as a refresher and should not replace best-practice care. Always refer to your facility’s policy on addressing chest pain.