Health Promotion and Maintenance NCLEX PN Questions Related

Review Health Promotion and Maintenance NCLEX PN Questions related questions and content

A nurse is preparing to listen to the apical heart rate in the area of the mitral valve in an adult client. The nurse should place the stethoscope on which part of the client's chest?

  • A. Second left interspace
  • B. Second right interspace
  • C. Left lower sternal border
  • D. Fifth left interspace at the midclavicular line
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct placement for auscultating the apical heart rate in the area of the mitral valve is the fifth left interspace at the midclavicular line. Placing the stethoscope in the second left interspace would be to listen to the pulmonic valve, the second right interspace is for the aortic valve, and the left lower sternal border is for the tricuspid valve.