Nursing Elites

1. A client with right-sided heart failure is being assessed by a nurse. Which of the following symptoms would the nurse most likely observe in this client?

• A. Weight loss and vomiting
• B. Coughing and 3+ pitting edema
• C. Muscle cramps and hyperreflexia
• D. Lethargy and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In right-sided heart failure (cor pulmonale), the right side of the heart struggles to pump blood to the lungs. This leads to symptoms related to fluid buildup in the body, such as coughing due to respiratory distress and 3+ pitting edema, commonly seen in the feet and ankles. Weight loss and vomiting (Choice A) are not typical symptoms of right-sided heart failure. Muscle cramps and hyperreflexia (Choice C) are more indicative of electrolyte imbalances or neurological issues. Lethargy and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (Choice D) are commonly associated with left-sided heart failure, not right-sided heart failure.

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