To assess the patient with pericarditis for the presence of a pericardial friction rub,the nurse should undertake which of the following actions?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should place the diaphragm of the stethoscope at the lower left sternal border of the chest to listen for a pericardial friction rub. The sound of the rub is typically high-pitched, scratchy, and heard best with the diaphragm of the stethoscope. The nurse should not ask the patient to stop breathing during auscultation as this will not help to distinguish the sound from a pleural rub. The nurse should also not use the diaphragm of the stethoscope to listen for a rumbling, low-pitched sound during systole or palpate the precordial area with the tips of the fingers to detect a vibration that occurs with each cardiac contraction as these are unlikely to help detect a pericardial friction rub.

To Assess the Patient with Pericarditis for the Presence of a Pericardial