Cardiology – Heart Sounds and Auscultation
This tutorial is an introduction to distinguishing between normal and abnormal heart sounds. It describes and explains the heart sounds that can be heard during auscultation, with audio demonstrations of both normal and common abnormal heart sounds.
This tutorial assumes a sound understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the heart, and is aimed at those working in cardiology. For others who are interested in broadening their knowledge but do not have a sound understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the heart, we recommend undertaking the tutorial Cardiology – An Introduction to the Anatomy and Physiology of the Heart before commencing this tutorial.
3 CPD hours
3 CNA points
Distinguishing between normal and abnormal heart sounds requires detailed knowledge and experience. This tutorial is the first step in that process, providing the knowledge base that will enable clinicians to detect, recognise and understand both normal and abnormal heart sounds.It describes and explains the heart sounds that can be heard during auscultation, with audio demonstrations of both normal and common abnormal heart sounds. Being able to recognise normal heart sounds enables the detection of any additional heart sounds. With practice, clinicians can then acquire the skills and confidence to accurately distinguish between what is normal and what is abnormal.
Auscultation should be performed only after adequate training and supervised practice. This tutorial provides the theoretical basis necessary to begin this process and assumes a thorough understanding of cardiac anatomy and physiology, which is provided in the first tutorial in this series: Cardiology – An Introduction to the Anatomy and Physiology of the Heart.
Robert Wilson BN, Grad Cert CritCare.
Robert has been working in critical care nursing for ten years and is a senior nurse in cardiothoracic intensive care in a major Australian tertiary hospital.
Louise Roberts BA (Law)
Louise is a professional health care writer and editor. Her experience includes being the chief sub-editor of the Nursing Standard, production editor of the Nursing Times, editing and writing for the World Wide Wounds website and various European Wound Management Association publications.
- Know what heart sounds are and how they are produced.
- Understand the principles of auscultation.
- Be familiar with the cardiac auscultatory areas.
- Be able to identify normal and common abnormal heart sounds.
- Know how auscultatory findings should be documented.