Your patient is interested in listening to his newly diagnosed heart murmur. You tell the patient that:
A) Listening is called auscultation, is done with the diaphragm, and requires a trained ear to hear a murmur.
B) Listening is called palpation and you would be glad to help him palpate the 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) Listening is called auscultation and should be done with both the bell and diaphragm. If you would like to listen to your murmur, I would be glad to help you.
Ans: D
Feedback: Listening with a stethoscope is auscultation and is done with both the bell and diaphragm. The diaphragm is used to assess high-frequency sounds such as systolic heart murmurs while the bell is used to assess low-frequency sounds such as diastolic heart murmurs. It is also important to provide education when ever possible and actively include the patient in the plan of care. Option A is incorrect; teaching an interested patient how to listen to a murmur should be encouraged. Option B is incorrect; listening is not called palpation. Option C is incorrect; most heart murmurs are benign and do not require surgery.
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