A patient has a newly diagnosed heart murmur. During the nurse's subsequent health education, he asks if he can listen to it. What would be the nurse's best response?
A) "Listening to the body is called auscultation. It is done with the diaphragm, and it requires a trained ear to hear a murmur."
B) "Listening is called palpation, and I would be glad to help you to palpate your murmur."
C) "Heart murmurs are pathologic and may require surgery. If you would like to listen to your murmur, I can provide you with instruction."
D) "If you would like to listen to your murmur, I'd be glad to help you and to show you how to use a stethoscope."
Ans: D
Feedback:
Listening with a stethoscope is auscultation and it is done with both the bell and diaphragm. The diaphragm is used to assess high-frequency sounds such as systolic heart murmurs, whereas the bell is used to assess low-frequency sounds such as diastolic heart murmurs. It is also important to provide education whenever possible and actively include the patient in the plan of care. Teaching an interested patient how to listen to a murmur should be encouraged. Many heart murmurs are benign and do not require surgery.
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