Cardiovascular

Equipment Needed

• Stethoscope
• Blood pressure cuff

What to Say to the Patient

• "I'm going to listen to your heart in a few different spots, please breathe normally."

Inspection Steps

• Precordium for visible pulsations, JVD
• Skin color/perfusion

Palpation Steps

• PMI location and size
• Peripheral pulses
• Thrills

Auscultation Steps

• Auscultate aortic, pulmonic, Erb's point, tricuspid, mitral areas
• Listen for S1/S2, murmurs, gallops, rubs

Normal Findings

• Regular rate and rhythm
• S1/S2 normal, no murmurs/gallops/rubs
• PMI 5th ICS midclavicular

Abnormal Findings

• Murmurs, gallops (S3/S4)
• Irregular rhythm
• Displaced/enlarged PMI
• JVD

Common Mistakes

• Only auscultating one position
• Not using bell for low-pitched sounds
• Rushing through all 5 auscultation points

Documentation Example

Regular rate and rhythm, S1/S2 normal without murmurs, gallops, or rubs. PMI nondisplaced.