A new nursing student is learning how to take vital signs. He is having difficulty hearing his patient's apical pulse with his stethoscope. Which of the following would best maximize the sound quality of what he hears through the stethoscope?
A. Positioning the diaphragm very lightly on the area he is listening to
B. Placing the stethoscope chestpiece directly on the patient's skin
C. Placing the stethoscope on the patient's back, directly behind the heart
D. Using a stethoscope with the longest tubing that he can find
B
Always place the stethoscope directly on the skin because clothing obscures the sound. Position the diaphragm to make a tight seal against the patient's skin. Exert enough pressure on the diaphragm to leave a temporary red ring on the patient's skin when the diaphragm is removed.
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