The nurse is preparing to perform a physical examination on a patient who has cardiopulmonary disease.Knowing this about the patient,the nurse is alert for the presence of which of the following when checking the patient's nails?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Clubbing of the nails is a sign commonly seen in patients with cardiopulmonary disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure (CHF), and pulmonary fibrosis. It is characterized by an enlargement of the fingertips and rounding of the nail beds, giving the nails a convex shape. This is due to chronic lack of oxygen delivery to the fingers and nails, and is a result of the body's attempt to increase the surface area of the nails in order to improve oxygen uptake.

The Nurse Is Preparing to Perform a Physical Examination on a Patient