The nurse is auscultating heart sounds on a client and hears an extra sound late in diastole, just before the S1. How should the nurse document this finding?
The third heart sound (S3)
A friction rub
The fourth heart sound (S4)
A split second heart sound S2
The Correct Answer is A
A. The third heart sound (S3):
The third heart sound (S3) is an abnormal heart sound that occurs during early diastole, immediately after S2 (the second heart sound). It is caused by the rapid filling of the ventricles and is often associated with conditions like heart failure. In heart failure, the ventricles become stiff, causing vibrations that produce the S3 sound.
B. A friction rub:
A friction rub is a high-pitched, scratchy sound heard during both systole and diastole. It is caused by the rubbing together of inflamed pericardial layers (pericarditis) and is usually heard best at the left lower sternal border. Friction rubs can indicate pericardial inflammation and are often heard in conditions such as pericarditis or after a myocardial infarction.
C. The fourth heart sound (S4):
The fourth heart sound (S4) occurs late in diastole, just before S1, and is caused by atrial contraction. It is associated with increased resistance to ventricular filling, often due to conditions like hypertension or aortic stenosis. The S4 sound is heard as a low-pitched "atrial gallop."
D. A split second heart sound S2:
The second heart sound (S2) represents the closure of the aortic and pulmonic valves. Normally, S2 has two components: A2 (aortic valve closure) and P2 (pulmonic valve closure). A split S2 occurs when A2 and P2 do not close simultaneously. A physiological split S2 is common during inspiration and occurs due to delayed closure of the pulmonic valve. An abnormal or fixed split S2 can indicate underlying heart conditions such as atrial septal defect (ASD) or right bundle branch block (RBBB).

Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Percussion of the posterior chest: Percussion helps assess the underlying structures of the chest but does not directly confirm symmetric chest expansion.
B. Inspection of the shape and configuration of the chest wall: Inspection is a crucial part of assessing chest symmetry. Any deformities, asymmetry, or abnormalities in the shape and configuration of the chest wall can be visually identified.
C. Placing the palmar surface of the fingers of one hand against the chest and having the client repeat "ninety-nine": This technique, known as tactile fremitus, involves feeling for vibrations or tremors while the client repeats a phrase. While it can provide information about underlying lung conditions, it's not primarily used to confirm symmetric chest expansion.
D. Placing hands sideways on the posterolateral chest wall with thumbs pointing together at the level of T9 or T10: This technique, known as chest expansion measurement, is used to assess symmetric chest expansion. Placing hands in this manner allows the nurse to feel for bilateral chest expansion during inspiration, ensuring that both sides of the chest expand symmetrically.

Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. AV node - SA node - bundle of His - bundle branches:
This sequence is incorrect. The SA node (sinoatrial node) initiates the electrical impulse in the heart, followed by the AV node (atrioventricular node), bundle of His, and then the bundle branches.
B. SA node - AV node - bundle of His - bundle branches:
This sequence is correct. The electrical stimulus of the cardiac cycle starts at the SA node, which is the natural pacemaker of the heart. From the SA node, the impulse travels to the AV node, then to the bundle of His, and finally to the bundle branches, which distribute the impulse to the ventricles, causing them to contract.
C. Bundle of His - AV node - SA node - Erb's Point:
This sequence is incorrect. Erb's Point is a point on the chest where heart sounds S2 and S3 can be heard most distinctly.
D. AV node - SA node - bundle of His - Erb's Point:
This sequence is incorrect. The AV node comes after the SA node in the electrical conduction system of the heart. Erb's Point is not a part of the normal cardiac conduction pathway; it is a location for auscultation on the chest.
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