Question

The nurse is performing an assessment on a client with a diagnosis of left-sided heart failure. Which assessment component would elicit specific information regarding the client's left-sided heart function?

1.Listening to lung sounds
2.Palpating for organomegaly 3.Assessing for jugular vein distention 4.Assessing for peripheral and sacral edema

Answer 1

Auscultation, or listening to a patient's heart sounds, is a useful diagnostic tool in assessing left-sided heart function due to heart failure.

Step-by-step explanation:

Auscultation, or listening to a patient's heart sounds, is one of the most useful diagnostic tools in assessing the client's left-sided heart function. By using a stethoscope, the nurse can listen for abnormal heart sounds, such as crackles or murmurs, which can indicate left-sided heart failure. These abnormal sounds may be heard during the client's inhalation or expiration, and can provide specific information about the client's left-side heart function.