You are auscultating a patient's chest. The sounds are not clear, and you are having difficulty distinguishing between respirations and heartbeats. Which technique can you use to facilitate your assessment?
A) Anticipate the next sounds.
B) Isolate each cycle segment.
C) Listen to all sounds together.
D) Move the stethoscope clockwise.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If you are hearing everything at once, it is more difficult to distinguish different sounds. Try isolating each segment and listen to that segment intently; then move on to another segment. For example, listen only to breath sounds, then only to inspiratory breath sounds, and then only to expiratory breath sounds. Anticipating the next sounds will not facilitate the assessment. Listening to all sounds together will not facilitate the assessment. One of the most difficult achievements in auscultation is learning to isolate sounds. Moving the stethoscope clockwise will not facilitate the assessment.

You Are Auscultating a Patient's Chest