The nurse is preparing to auscultate for heart sounds. Which technique is correct?

A) Listening for all possible sounds at a time at each specified area.
B) Listening to the sounds at the aortic, tricuspid, pulmonic, and mitral areas.
C) Listening to the sounds only at the site where the apical pulse is felt to be the strongest.
D) Listening by inching the stethoscope in a rough Z pattern, from the base of the heart across and down, then over to the apex.

Question

Zybrea Knight · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : D, Explanation :  Auscultation of breath sounds should not be limited to only four locations. Sounds produced by the valves may be heard all over the precordium. The stethoscope should be inched in a rough Z pattern from the base of the heart across and down, then over to the apex; or, starting at the apex, it should be slowly worked up. Listening selectively to one sound at a time is best.

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