When auscultating heart sounds, the nurse asks the patient to lie on the left side, then sit up and lean forward. Why is the patient asked to move into these positions?
1. The heart is closer to the chest wall.
2. They diminish the effect of respiratory sounds during auscultation.
3. Use of the stethoscope diaphragm improves auscultation of high-pitched murmurs.
4. Use of the bell side of the stethoscope allows low-pitched sounds to be readily identified.
Correct Answer: 1
These positions bring the heart closer to the chest wall and enhance auscultation. They do not diminish the effect of respiratory sounds during auscultation, enhance the use of the stethoscope diaphragm to auscultate high-pitched murmurs, or enhance the use of the stethoscope bell to identify low-pitched sounds.
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