Pathophysiology

The Merck Manual for Health Professionals.
History - Cardiovascular Examination

Merck Manual. A comprehensive medical reference for health professionals, with information on cardiovascular disorders.

Index of heart conditions from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canada’s most widely recognized and trusted authority on cardiovascular health.

MedlinePlus. A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Overviews - Latest News - Diagnosis/Symptoms - Treatment - Prevention/Screening - Alternative Therapy - Nutrition - Rehabilitation/Recovery - Coping - Disease Management - Specific Conditions - Related Issues

Provides information about the rate and rhythm of the heart, valve functioning and possible anatomical defects. It requires knowledge of what heart sounds are normal and a methodical approach with careful attention to the sounds produced during the cardiac cycle. This program provides nurses and other healthcare professionals with a thorough understanding of the various normal heart sounds, and examples of these sounds to provide a basis for differentiating normal and abnormal sounds.

Provides nurses and other healthcare professionals with a thorough understanding of auscultation techniques and practices, including the basic process of cardiac auscultation, identifying landmarks where cardiac sounds can best be heard, proper positioning of the patient and how to record observations.

This program demonstrates the resuscitation of an in-patient who suffers an unwitnessed pulseless arrest on an acute care floor. It begins when a nurse finds an unresponsive patient and describes her actions until the Code Blue team arrives. When they enter the room, the dynamics of the group are demonstrated as each person assumes his or her role and carries out appropriate assessments and interventions.