To facilitate auscultation of specific heart sounds, perform the cardiac assessment with the client in three positions: sitting, supine and left lateral recumbent.
Auscultate to establish cardiac rate and rhythm and to identify normal and abnormal heart sounds.
Auscultate in an order.
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Aortic Pulmonic Tricuspid Mitral
Listen first with the diaphragm of the stethoscope then with the bell.