After a young adult woman describes feeling palpitations when she lies on her left side, it is most important for the nurse to auscultate heart sounds at which anatomical location?

Apex of the heart at left fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line.

Base of the heart at second intercostal space, right of the sternal border.

Left third intercostal space, left lateral sternal border.

Second intercostal space, left of the sternal border.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Rationale:
A. Apex of the heart at left fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line: The apex of the heart is the best site for auscultating the mitral valve and detecting abnormal heart sounds such as murmurs or extra beats. Palpitations described when lying on the left side suggest that subtle cardiac abnormalities might be most prominent at the apex.

B. Base of the heart at second intercostal space, right of the sternal border: This area is used to auscultate the aortic valve. While important in cardiac assessment, it is less likely to reveal abnormalities related to palpitations originating from left-sided cardiac activity.

C. Left third intercostal space, left lateral sternal border: This location is the best for auscultating the tricuspid valve and certain murmurs, but for palpitations described in the left lateral position, the apex is a more targeted and sensitive site for assessment.

D. Second intercostal space, left of the sternal border: This site is used to auscultate the pulmonic valve. It does not best capture mitral valve or left ventricular activity, which are more likely sources of palpitations when lying on the left side.

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Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"B","dropdown-group-2":"D"}

Explanation

Rationale:

• Center of the heart: The center of the heart is not an anatomical landmark used to differentiate heart sounds. Heart sounds are best heard at specific points related to valve locations, and the "center" does not correspond to where S1 or S2 are loudest.

• Apex of the heart: The apex of the heart is located at the fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line. S1, produced by the closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves, is loudest here because these valves are closest to the apex region.

• Right side of the heart: The right side of the heart involves the tricuspid and pulmonary valves, but it is not a location used for distinguishing where heart sounds are loudest. Both left and right-sided valves contribute to S1 and S2, but loudness is associated with specific auscultation sites, not broadly the right side.

• Base of the heart: The base of the heart is located at the level of the second intercostal space near the sternum. S2, produced by the closure of the aortic and pulmonic valves, is loudest at the base because these semilunar valves are positioned superiorly.

• Left side of the heart: The left side of the heart includes the mitral and aortic valves but saying simply "left side" does not accurately describe where S1 or S2 are best heard. The terms apex and base are used instead because they specifically relate to the loudest points for heart sounds.

A. Glucose. B. White blood cell count (WBC). C. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN). D. Hematocrit.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Rationale:
A. Glucose: Monitoring glucose levels is important for clients with diabetes or metabolic concerns, but it does not provide direct information about blood loss. Melena indicates gastrointestinal bleeding, and glucose measurements would not help evaluate the severity of this blood loss.

B. White blood cell count (WBC): A WBC count can detect infection or inflammation but is not the primary concern in a client with melena. Since melena suggests gastrointestinal bleeding, monitoring for anemia or hypovolemia is far more critical than assessing for infection at this point.

C. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): BUN levels may rise with upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to the digestion of blood proteins. However, while helpful in some cases, BUN is less directly reflective of the immediate clinical impact of blood loss compared to hematocrit, which assesses the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity.

D. Hematocrit: Hematocrit measures the proportion of red blood cells in the blood and is a critical indicator of anemia and blood loss severity. In clients with melena, monitoring hematocrit helps evaluate the extent of bleeding and the need for interventions like fluid replacement or transfusion.

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After a young adult woman describes feeling palpitations when she lies on her left side, it is most important for the nurse to auscultate heart sounds at which anatomical location?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Exhibits Drag from Word Choices to complete the sentence. Heart sounds are loudest for S1 at the dropdown. And for S2 at the dropdown

Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"B","dropdown-group-2":"D"}

Explanation

The nurse observes that a client is experiencing melena. Which serum laboratory test should the nurse monitor in response to this finding?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

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