AACN Certification Practice Test 2026 – Comprehensive Exam Prep

The TIMI (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction) score is a clinical tool used to assess the risk of cardiac events in patients with unstable angina or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). A score ranging from 3 to 7 indicates high risk for serious events, such as myocardial infarction or death, within 14 days.

Specific risk factors contribute to this scoring, including age, the presence of risk factors like diabetes or prior coronary artery disease, the severity of angina, and alterations in cardiac biomarkers. Patients scoring within this range typically warrant closer monitoring and more aggressive treatment interventions due to their elevated risk.

In contrast, lower scores indicate a lower risk and often suggest that a patient may be suitable for outpatient management or less intensive interventions. Therefore, recognizing a TIMI score within the 3 to 7 range as indicative of a higher risk allows healthcare providers to tailor their clinical decision-making and manage patient care effectively.