The nurse is auscultating the carotid arteries of an elderly ...

[kellyjaisingh]

The nurse is auscultating the carotid arteries of an elderly client and notes a bruit over the left carotid artery. Which of the following should the nurse do with this assessment finding?
 
  1. Notify the physician
   2. Document the findings as normal
   3. Auscultate the heart for murmurs
   1. Examine for jugular vein distention

Question 2

A family member is hospitalized with an illness. Which of the following factors will the nurse assess to determine the impact this illness will have on the family? (Select all that apply.)
 
  1. Nature of the illness
   2. Duration of the illness
   3. Cause of the illness
   4. Financial impact of the illness
   5. Effect of the illness on future family functioning

[snackralk]

Answer to Question 1

3. Auscultate the heart for murmurs

Rationale:
Bruits are abnormal signs of carotid stenosis and may signal an impending stroke. If a bruit is heard, auscultation of the aortic and pulmonic valves of the heart should be done to examine for murmurs that may be radiating into the neck. This additional assessment should be performed before any notification of the physician is done. Assessment of jugular vein distention is not relevant at this time.

Answer to Question 2

1. Nature of the illness
2. Duration of the illness
4. Financial impact of the illness
5. Effect of the illness on future family functioning

Rationale:
The impact on the family is assessed by knowledge of the nature and duration of the illness as well as its effect on the family finances and functioning. Other factors include residual effects of the illness, meaning of the illness to the family, and its significance to family systems. The cause of the illness is not a factor that determines the impact on the family.

[kellyjaisingh]

TYSM

[sailorcrescent]

Excellent