A 65-year-old man presents with a chief complaint of crushing substernal chest pain that has been present for the past 40 minutes. As you begin your initial assessment of this patient, when should a 12-lead ECG be obtained?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Obtaining and reviewing a 12-lead ECG is part of the initial assessment of the patient presenting with ischemic chest discomfort and important in determining an appropriate treatment plan. Obtain the first 12-lead ECG with 10 minutes of patient contact. Obtain a repeat 12-lead ECG with each set of vital signs, when the patient's symptoms change, and as often as necessary.

A 65-Year-Old Man Presents with a Chief Complaint of Crushing