Doc'ing Bruit and Thrill.

Nursing Students Student Assist Nursing Q/A

I have a resident with a fistula in her upper L arm. I am only on my 3rd day of clinical and need to document the bruit and thrill.

What is the appropriate way to chart this?

I'm considering buying the book everyone is suggesting, "Charting Made Incredibly Easy."

Thanks in advance for any help.

8 Answers

Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Oncology.

If I'm short on space, I just put: A-V fistula to L FA; Bruit/Thrill +/+

Specializes in Emergency.

If it's a mature fistula, you should be hearing the bruit and feeling the thrill. If you can't, there might (will) be a problem with blood flow in the fistula—an appropriate time to call the doc.

As for documentation - record what you assessed, I.e., positive auscultation of bruit and positive palpation of thrill in L UE.

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Thrills are low-frequency cutaneous vibrations that you can only feel by palpation.

Bruits are adventitious sounds you hear by auscultation caused by turbulent blood flow through an artery.

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
KEL2BanRN said:

I know all of that, but thanks. I was looking for how to word it in my charting, and I got it now, though.

"Able to palpate thrill over the fistula."

"Able to auscultate strong/weak bruit over the fistula."

emtb2rn said:
As for documentation - record what you assessed, I.e., positive auscultation of bruit and positive palpation of thrill in L UE.

Thank you!

daytonite said:

Thrills are low-frequency cutaneous vibrations that you can only feel by palpation.

Bruits are adventitious sounds you hear by auscultation caused by turbulent blood flow through an artery.

I know all of that, but thanks. I was looking for how to word it in my charting, and I got it now, though.

NurseyBaby said:

If I'm short on space, I just put: A-V fistula to L FA; Bruit/Thrill +/+

THANK YOU!!

KEL2BanRN said:

I have a resident with a fistula in her upper L arm. I am only on my 3rd day of clinical and need to document the bruit and thrill.

What is the appropriate way to chart this?

I'm considering buying the book everyone is suggesting, "Charting Made Incredibly Easy."

Thanks in advance for any help.

I am sorry I can't help. I just ordered that book and wondered if anyone knew if it was any good; someone recommended it, but I haven't heard any more about it.

Good luck!

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