Progress in cardiovascular nursing
-
Prog Cardiovasc Nurs · Jan 2003
Review Case ReportsTransitioning adolescents with congenital heart disease into adult health care.
The effort and commitment dedicated to the treatment of children with congenital heart disease over the past 50 years has been astounding. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure these young patients who have survived the varying challenges of their conditions a smooth transition into a new world of adult health care. The key to the long-term management of an increasing number of children surviving congenital heart disease is the effective coordination of care from pediatric to adult health care. Strategies for facilitating the transition of the adolescent with congenital heart disease into adult health care practices are presented in this paper.
-
The purpose of this review is to describe a step-by-step assessment of the pulmonary system. Beginning with the sequence of the history and physical examination related to pulmonary assessment, the author describes the most common chief complaints and potential causes of these symptoms. The inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation steps of the physical examination are also reviewed. A detailed assessment of the pulmonary system will aid in the identification of patient problems and assist in the selection of appropriate goals and interventions for the patient.