Final answer:
Signs of right ventricular failure include neck vein distention, peripheral edema, and organ congestion. These occur because the heart cannot pump blood effectively, leading to increased venous pressure and systemic backup.
Step-by-step explanation:
When assessing a client for signs of right ventricular failure, a nurse should expect to find certain clinical manifestations linked to this condition. Right ventricular failure often leads to a backup of blood in the systemic circulation since the right side of the heart is unable to pump efficiently. This backup causes an increased pressure in the veins that carry blood to the heart, including the vena cavae.
One of the hallmark symptoms of right-sided heart failure is neck vein distention, which is a direct result of increased pressure in the vena cava and the inability of the right ventricle to accept and pump the returning venous blood effectively. Other signs of right ventricular failure include peripheral edema, hepatomegaly, and ascites. These symptoms occur because when the right heart fails, blood backs up into the venous system, causing fluid to leak out of blood vessels and into body tissues, resulting in swelling and organ congestion.
Given these factors, the final answer in a two-line explanation is: The nurse should expect to see neck vein distention being a sign of right ventricular failure, which occurs due to increased venous pressure as the right heart struggles to pump blood efficiently.