Objective:

Design and validate a nursing assessment instrument for cardiopulmonary system in the clinical setting.

Methods:

Descriptive study to validate the appearance and content of a cardiopulmonary responses assessment instrument for nursing in adults for clinical environment.

Results:

An assessment instrument was created, according to the following components: Generalities, anamnesis, physical examination and diagnostic aids. The evaluation of the aspect and content validity were reviewed those items that obtained a percentage lower than 80 % in each of the items evaluated. In this way, some changes were made to obtain the final instrument.

Conclusions:

The instrument of focused assessment of cardiopulmonary responses in adults shows adequate appearance and content validity. This instrument may be used in a clinical or academic setting.