Pericarditis — NCLEX Cheat Sheet
Inflamed pericardial sacAlso known as: pericardial inflammation · inflamed heart sac · chest pain pericarditis
Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Pericarditis on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!
🩺📒 The 1-minute cheat sheet
🩺 Signs
- Sharp pain, worse supine/inspire
- Relieved leaning forward
- Pericardial friction rub
- Fever, ST elevation diffuse
🚩 Report
- Cardiac tamponade
- Muffled tones, ↓ BP, JVD
✅ Do
- NSAIDs, colchicine, rest
- Upright/forward position comfort
- Treat underlying cause
📚 Pericarditis — full study notes
The cheat sheet above is your quick recall card. These notes go deeper — what it is, what to do first, what must be reported, and what to teach.
Key points
Understand these first- Chest pain is sharp and pleuritic, worsening with deep breathing, coughing, and lying flat and relieved by sitting forward.
- A pericardial friction rub is a classic scratchy sound heard on auscultation at the left sternal border.
- ECG often shows diffuse ST-segment elevation across multiple leads.
- Common causes include viral infection, recent MI (Dressler syndrome), uremia, and autoimmune disorders.
- Pericardial effusion can develop and progress to life-threatening cardiac tamponade.
Nursing priorities
What to do, in order- Position the patient upright and leaning forward to relieve pain and ease breathing.
- Administer NSAIDs or colchicine and corticosteroids as ordered to reduce inflammation.
- Auscultate for a pericardial friction rub and monitor for muffled heart sounds.
- Monitor closely for signs of pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade.
- Assess and document pain characteristics and relief measures.
Red flags — report now
Escalate immediately- Muffled or distant heart sounds, jugular vein distention, and hypotension signal cardiac tamponade and require emergency intervention.
- A narrowing pulse pressure or pulsus paradoxus indicates developing tamponade and must be escalated now.
- Sudden worsening dyspnea or hemodynamic instability requires immediate provider notification.
Labs & values
Numbers to know- WBC: elevated above 5,000-10,000/mm3 with infection
- ESR and CRP: elevated indicating inflammation
- Troponin: may be mildly elevated if myocardium is involved
Patient teaching
What patients must know- Take anti-inflammatory medications with food to prevent stomach upset and complete the full course.
- Sit upright and lean forward to ease chest pain, and rest during the recovery period.
- Report worsening shortness of breath, dizziness, or a feeling of pressure, which could mean fluid is building around the heart.
❓ Pericarditis: NCLEX FAQs
What are the priority nursing interventions for Pericarditis?
Position the patient upright and leaning forward to relieve pain and ease breathing. Administer NSAIDs or colchicine and corticosteroids as ordered to reduce inflammation. Auscultate for a pericardial friction rub and monitor for muffled heart sounds. Monitor closely for signs of pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade.
What are the warning signs of Pericarditis a nurse must report?
Muffled or distant heart sounds, jugular vein distention, and hypotension signal cardiac tamponade and require emergency intervention. A narrowing pulse pressure or pulsus paradoxus indicates developing tamponade and must be escalated now. Sudden worsening dyspnea or hemodynamic instability requires immediate provider notification.
What do I need to know about Pericarditis for the NCLEX?
Chest pain is sharp and pleuritic, worsening with deep breathing, coughing, and lying flat and relieved by sitting forward. A pericardial friction rub is a classic scratchy sound heard on auscultation at the left sternal border. ECG often shows diffuse ST-segment elevation across multiple leads. Common causes include viral infection, recent MI (Dressler syndrome), uremia, and autoimmune disorders.
What patient teaching is important for Pericarditis?
Take anti-inflammatory medications with food to prevent stomach upset and complete the full course. Sit upright and lean forward to ease chest pain, and rest during the recovery period. Report worsening shortness of breath, dizziness, or a feeling of pressure, which could mean fluid is building around the heart.
Quick Tip
Chest pain is sharp and pleuritic, worsening with deep breathing, coughing, and lying flat and relieved by sitting forward.
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