Approach to pulmonary embolism: A clinical care pathway

ABSTRACT Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially fatal condition that is often underdiagnosed due to its ambiguous and generalized symptoms. As such, nurse practitioners (NPs) may struggle to respond in a timely and accurate manner to clients presenting with acute PE. Given the complexities of diagnosing and managing PE, we propose a visual clinical care pathway to support NPs in recognizing and stratifying clients' risks of PE. The article provides guidance regarding PE diagnostic testing and offers a summary of effective, evidence-based treatment options for adult clients, including those with cancer.