The best position for the nurse to position the client in order to aus

The best position for the nurse to position the client in order to auscultate the apical site, if a low-pitched murmur is suspected during prior assessment, is:

1. Sitting up
2. Standing
3. Lying on the left side
4. Dorsal recumbent

ANSWER

ANS: 3
Extra heart sounds or heart murmurs are heard more easily with the client lying on the left side (lateral recumbent) with the stethoscope at the apical site. Sitting upright is used for assessing lung expansion and symmetry of the upper extremities. Standing is not the best position for aus-cultating a heart murmur. The dorsal recumbent position is best used for abdominal assessment.