Cardiology

Cardiology is based in both St James's Hospital and Tallaght University Hospital

In St James's Hospital after a rotation the students should know:

- Physiology of the Cardiovascular System.
- Symptoms and Signs of Cardiovascular Disease.
- Ability to take a history, perform physical examination and present findings to team members.
- Observation of diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular emergencies and acute admissions.
- Some knowledge of evidence based therapies.
- Observation of non-invasive and invasive diagnostic procedures.

In Tallaght University Hospital after a rotation the students should know:

- Do a complete cardiovascular assessment including:
- Full medical history.
- Observe patient’s overall appearance for distress, cyanosis, pallor.
- Examination of peripheral pulses for rate, rhythm and quality.
- Take blood pressure in both arms.
- Locate the apex beat.
- Observe the JVP, listen for carotid bruits.
- Palpate for thrills.
- Identify the first and second heart sounds.
- Recognize mitral, aortic, pulmonary and tricuspid murmurs and assess their timing and intensity.
- Record an ECG and identify common abnormalities.