Noninvasive Cardiac Tests Aid Diagnosis of Cardiovascular Disease

Course overview

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Accurate and swift diagnosis of CVD is crucial for improved patient outcomes. Patient care in many settings may include cardiac procedures as part of a thorough patient evaluation. Healthcare professionals should understand a variety of cardiac tests and the rationale behind them to help facilitate timely testing and patients' understanding of such tests. This course will review several noninvasive cardiac tests, including the ECG, exercise stress test, pharmacological stress test, nuclear scans, CT calcium scan, CT angiography and cardiac MRI with an emphasis on patient preparation and nursing care.