A Nurse Is Preparing to Auscultate an Apical Heart Rate

A nurse is preparing to auscultate an apical heart rate on a patient as part of a vital sign assessment. The nurse knows the proper order to assess the apical heart rate is which of the following?

A) Uncover left side of chest, place diaphragm of stethoscope over left fifth intercostal space at midclavicular line, warm stethoscope, auscultate heartbeat, count beats for 30 seconds (multiply ? 2) , clean stethoscope with alcohol, explain technique.
B) Explain technique, place diaphragm of stethoscope over clothes over left fifth intercostal space at midclavicular line, auscultate heartbeat, count beats for 30 seconds (multiply ? 2) .
C) Explain technique, warm stethoscope, uncover left side of chest, place diaphragm of stethoscope over right fifth intercostal space at midclavicular line, count beats for 30 seconds (multiply ? 2) , clean stethoscope with alcohol.
D) Explain technique, warm stethoscope, uncover left side of chest, place diaphragm of stethoscope over left fifth intercostal space at midclavicular line, auscultate heartbeat, count beats for 60 seconds, clean stethoscope with alcohol.