During the precordial assessment of a patient who is 8 months pregnant, the nurse palpates the apical impulse at the fourth left intercostal space lateral to the midclavicular line. What does this finding indicate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Palpation of the apical impulse is higher and more lateral, compared with the normal position, because the enlarging uterus elevates the diaphragm and displaces the heart up and to the left and rotates it on its long axis. This finding does not indicate right ventricular hypertrophy, increased blood flow through the internal mammary artery, or increased volume and size of the heart.

During the Precordial Assessment of a Patient Who Is 8