Final answer:
Round and enlarged fingertips in a patient with COPD indicate the symptom known as clubbing, which results from chronic low levels of oxygen in the blood associated with respiratory conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The round and enlarged fingertips noted in a patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) by a nurse during an assessment are indicative of clubbing. Clubbing is a symptom characterized by bulbous enlargement of the ends of the fingers and toes due to changes in the soft tissue beneath the fingernails and toenails. This occurs as a result of chronic low levels of oxygen in the blood, which is often associated with conditions such as COPD.
Therefore, when the nurse observes these characteristic rounded, enlarged finger tips in a patient with COPD, the correct identification of this symptom is clubbing. It is not cyanosis, dyspnea, or arthritis, which are different symptoms altogether. Cyanosis refers to a bluish discoloration of the skin due to low oxygen saturation, dyspnea is the medical term for shortness of breath, and arthritis involves inflammation of the joints.