When auscultating the breath sounds of a client with pericarditis, the nurse would expect to find which of the following?
Friction rub
Wheezes
Rales
Rhonchi
The Correct Answer is A
A. A friction rub is the characteristic auscultatory finding in pericarditis. It is a high-pitched, scratchy sound heard best at the left lower sternal border and is caused by the inflamed pericardial layers rubbing against each other.
B. Wheezes are continuous, musical sounds usually associated with airway narrowing, such as in asthma or COPD.
C. Rales (crackles) are heard in conditions like pulmonary edema or pneumonia, not pericarditis.
D. Rhonchi are low-pitched, snoring sounds associated with mucus or obstruction in the larger airways.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Ventricular tachycardia is a run of three or more consecutive ventricular beats at a rapid rate, not every other beat.
B. Multifocal premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) arise from different ventricular foci and have different shapes, but this scenario describes uniform shape and consistent pattern.
C. Ventricular couplets are two consecutive PVCs, not a pattern where every other beat is abnormal.
D. Ventricular bigeminy is the correct term for a rhythm in which every other beat is a premature ventricular contraction (PVC). These PVCs typically have no visible P wave and a wide, bizarre QRS complex, matching the description given.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Notifying the health care provider immediately is not necessary, as the PR interval is at the upper limit of normal (0.20 seconds) and the client is stable.
B. Document the finding and continue to monitor the patient – A PR interval of 0.20 seconds with a normal heart rate and rhythm does not require intervention; just ongoing observation.
C. Prepare the patient for temporary pacemaker insertion – This is used for serious conduction blocks or symptomatic bradycardia, which are not present here.
D. Give atropine per agency dysrhythmia protocol – Atropine is used for symptomatic bradycardia, which this client does not exhibit.
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