health assessment exam 1 test bank Related

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Which technique should be used to assess a murmur in a patient's heart?

  • A. The bell of the stethoscope
  • B. The diaphragm of the stethoscope
  • C. Palpation with the palm of the hand
  • D. Ask another nurse to double-check the finding.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: The diaphragm of the stethoscope. The diaphragm is used to assess heart murmurs as it allows for higher-frequency sounds to be heard more clearly. When assessing heart murmurs, using the diaphragm helps to differentiate between systolic and diastolic murmurs, as well as to identify specific characteristics such as intensity and location.

A: The bell of the stethoscope is used for low-frequency sounds and would not be ideal for assessing heart murmurs.
C: Palpation with the palm of the hand is used to assess pulses and vibrations, not heart murmurs.
D: Asking another nurse to double-check the finding is important for validation but does not directly relate to the technique used to assess a heart murmur.