Recent data continue to demonstrate that cardiovascular disease is a significant and disproportionate health burden among incarcerated populations. While earlier Bureau of Justice Statistics reports identified heart-related conditions in approximately 10% of incarcerated persons, more current research indicates that the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, tobacco use, and obesity, is substantially higher in correctional populations than in the general community. These risk factors, combined with barriers to consistent preventive care prior to incarceration, contribute to increased rates of cardiac disease and adverse outcomes. As a result, correctional nurses must maintain a strong foundation in cardiac pathophysiology and the recognition of both typical and atypical presentations of cardiac conditions in order to safely identify, evaluate, and manage this high-risk population.

In this class, the functioning of the heart will be discussed, including circulation and the electrical  stimulation that allows it to function properly.  Common heart murmurs will be explained, and audio clips of each murmur will be used to enhance identification of murmurs (the use of headphones/earbuds is highly encouraged to enhance the clarity of the audio). This class is meant to complement The Correctional Nurse Educator class entitled A Cardiac Primer for the Correctional Nurse:  Arrhythmias and the ECG.