Chest Pain Visit Intake

Chest pain is one of the most common cardiology visits. Get accurate vitals and an EKG per protocol, and know how to tell a stable patient from an unstable one — that distinction decides whether you simply report it or get the provider right away.

• •Is the pain happening now? When did it start?
• •What it feels like (pressure/sharp), radiation, what brings it on/relieves it.
• •Associated symptoms: sweating, nausea, shortness of breath.
• •Cardiac history and risk factors.
• •Vitals; EKG if ordered/per protocol.

1. 1.Confirm identity; ask if the pain is happening now.
2. 2.Take vitals and acquire an EKG promptly (per your clinic’s protocol).
3. 3.If the patient is UNSTABLE (abnormal vitals, looks very unwell, faint, or in severe distress) → get the nurse/provider immediately.
4. 4.If stable, notify the nurse/provider and have the EKG ready for them to review.
5. 5.Document the symptom details in the patient’s words.

• •Get help NOW (interrupt): abnormal vitals (low BP/O2, very fast/slow HR), fainting, severe shortness of breath, or a patient who looks very unwell/clammy and in distress.
• •Report and get an EKG (stable patient): chest pain with normal vitals — flag it and have the EKG ready; you don’t need to pull the provider out of a room.

• •Don’t interpret the pain or EKG, or reassure that it’s benign.

• •Note timing, character, associated symptoms, EKG time, and escalation.

• ☐Took vitals and acquired an EKG per protocol.
• ☐Judged stable vs. unstable — interrupted the provider only for instability.
• ☐Reported the chest pain and had the EKG ready for review.
• ☐Documented symptom details in the patient’s words.