Final answer:
In cases of acute pulmonary edema, the most likely symptom to be found during a nurse's assessment is moist, gurgling respirations. This is due to the increased hydrostatic pressure in the lungs causing fluid to leak into lung tissues, a result of compromised cardiac function.
Step-by-step explanation:
A client admitted to the cardiac step-down unit with acute pulmonary edema is likely to display symptoms directly related to the excess fluid in the air sacs of the lungs. During the nurse's assessment, the expected findings would include moist, gurgling respirations due to fluid build-up. Difficulty breathing and potential chest pain are also common in such cases. The increased hydrostatic pressure within pulmonary capillaries due to heart failure can cause this fluid to be pushed out of capillaries and into lung tissues, further leading to symptoms of pulmonary edema.
When considering the multiple-choice options presented in the question, option B, involving moist, gurgling respirations, is the most accurate. Increased cardiac output and hypertension (option A) may be present in other cardiac conditions, but are not the primary symptoms of pulmonary edema. Drowsiness and numbness (option C) can also be seen in various medical scenarios but are not definitive signs of acute pulmonary edema specifically.