A nurse is performing a cardiovascular assessment on a healthy client. In which of the following anatomical landmarks would the nurse expect to palpate the client's Point of Maximal Impulse (PMI)?
Left fourth intercostal space at the sternal border.
Left third intercostal space at the sternal border.
Left second intercostal space at the midclavicular line.
Left fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line.
The Correct Answer is D
The correct answer is: d. Left fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line.
Choice A: Left fourth intercostal space at the sternal border
The fourth intercostal space at the sternal border is not the typical location for the Point of Maximal Impulse (PMI). This area is more commonly associated with the tricuspid valve auscultation point. The PMI is usually found more laterally and inferiorly.
Choice B: Left third intercostal space at the sternal border
The third intercostal space at the sternal border is also not the correct location for the PMI. This area is generally used for auscultating the pulmonic valve. The PMI is located further down and towards the midclavicular line.
Choice C: Left second intercostal space at the midclavicular line
The second intercostal space at the midclavicular line is typically where the aortic valve is auscultated. The PMI is not found this high up on the chest.
Choice D: Left fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line
This is the correct location for palpating the Point of Maximal Impulse (PMI). The PMI is usually located at the apex of the heart, which is found at the left fifth intercostal space along the midclavicular line. This is where the left ventricle is closest to the chest wall and can be felt most strongly during systole.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Admission assessment of a new client requires comprehensive evaluation, critical thinking, and clinical judgment. This task is within the scope of a registered nurse's responsibilities and should not be delegated to an LPN.
Choice B rationale:
Evaluating changes to a client's pressure ulcer also involves clinical judgment and assessment skills that fall within the domain of a registered nurse's role.
Choice C rationale:
This is the correct choice. Tracheostomy care involves routine and standardized procedures that an LPN can perform under the supervision of a registered nurse. LPNs are trained to provide this type of care safely and effectively.
Choice D rationale:
Administering a blood transfusion is a complex procedure that requires careful monitoring and assessment for potential adverse reactions. This task is typically within the scope of a registered nurse's practice, not an LPN's.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Unequal chest expansion is the correct choice. In a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the airways are often narrowed and obstructed, leading to difficulty in moving air in and out of the lungs. This can result in unequal chest expansion during breathing, where one side of the chest expands less than the other. This finding is commonly observed in patients with COPD due to the imbalance in lung function between different areas of the lungs.
Choice B rationale:
Atrophied neck and trapezius muscle is not a typical finding in COPD. Muscle atrophy can occur in conditions of prolonged disuse or immobility, but it is not a characteristic manifestation of COPD itself.
Choice C rationale:
Increased tactile fremitus refers to increased vibrations felt on the chest wall during speech. This finding is more commonly associated with conditions that cause lung consolidation, such as pneumonia. In COPD, there is often air trapping and hyperinflation of the lungs, which would not lead to increased tactile fremitus.
Choice D rationale:
An anterior-to-posterior chest diameter ratio of 1:1 is not a typical finding in a healthy individual, let alone in a patient with COPD. In COPD, there is often an increase in the anterior-to-posterior chest diameter ratio, giving the chest a barrel-like appearance. This is due to the trapped air and hyperinflation of the lungs, which is characteristic of the disease.
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