A patient is admitted with acute pericarditis. When auscultating heart sounds, the nurse should ask the patient to do which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When auscultating heart sounds in a patient with pericarditis, the nurse should ask the patient to sit upright, lean forward, and auscultate at the left lower sternal border. This position allows for better detection of pericardial friction rub, a common finding in pericarditis. Option B is incorrect as it refers to auscultating for expiratory wheezes, which is not relevant in acute pericarditis. Option C is also incorrect as it refers to auscultating the lungs for breath sounds, which is not necessary in the assessment of pericarditis. Option D is incorrect as it refers to auscultating at the second right intercostal space, near the sternal border, which is not a typical location for auscultating pericardial friction rub.

A Patient Is Admitted with Acute Pericarditis