The cardiovascular system is the body’s engine, pumping blood and oxygen to every organ. A thorough cardiovascular assessment helps nurses detect subtle changes that may point to life-threatening conditions like heart failure, arrhythmias, or poor perfusion. In this lesson, we’ll walk through how to assess the heart and circulation — from inspection and palpation to auscultation — so you can recognize normal findings, identify red flags, and connect them to patient care.
Video Timestamps:
00:07 – Cardiovascular assessment focuses on circulation and perfusion.
01:26 – Assessing peripheral pulses for checking adequate perfusion and circulation in the extremities.
02:43 – Different pulse points for cardiovascular assessment
03:50 – Checking for alternative pulse locations when radial pulse is not easily felt
04:53 – Cardiovascular assessment includes checking for pulses in different areas of the body.
06:03 – Inspecting the precordium is crucial in cardiovascular assessment.
07:13 – Assessing cardiovascular status in patients with heart issues
08: 25 – Identifying oscillation spots for heart valves
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