Final answer:
In cor pulmonale, a nurse can expect to observe an increased heart rate as the heart compensates for increased lung resistance, cyanosis due to low blood oxygen levels, and oedema resulting from the heart's inability to pump blood effectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cor pulmonale is a condition characterized by the enlargement of the right ventricle of the heart as a result of high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries (pulmonary hypertension) usually caused by chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). When a patient develops cor pulmonale, the nurse may expect to observe several clinical manifestations.
Firstly, increased heart rate is a common finding as the heart compensates for the increased resistance in the lungs by pumping faster. Secondly, the patient may have cyanosis, which is a bluish discolouration of the skin due to decreased oxygenation of the blood. Finally, oedema, especially in the lower extremities, is a sign of right heart failure as the heart is unable to pump blood effectively, causing fluid to accumulate in the tissues.
Decreased blood pressure is not a common observation in cor pulmonale; instead, it may be normal or even elevated due to the increased cardiac workload and systemic vasoconstriction in response to hypoxia in lung diseases. In sum, a nurse would most likely observe increased heart rate, cyanosis, and oedema in a patient with cor pulmonale.