Consider the scenario and answer the following questions:

Mr. Nathaniel is a 46 year-old man who has developed symptoms of acute

pericarditis secondary to viral infection. Diagnosis was based on characteristic sign of
a friction rub and pain over the pericardium.

1. The patient is experiencing pericardial pain. To alleviate this discomfort, what

position could the nurse assist the patient with maintaining?

 The position that the nurses assist the patient is semi fowler’s position

2. When planning Mr. Nathaniel’s care, what should the nurse understand are the
objectives of pericarditis management?

 When the identified etiology of acute pericarditis is not viral or idiopathic,

management should be directed toward treating the underlying cause. Patients
with no high risk features can be managed as outpatients. Medical management
for viral or idiopathic acute pericarditis has been centered on 3 major agents.
NSAIDS, colchicine, and corticosteroids. The management and prognosis of
patients with myopericarditis are similar to those of patients with acute
pericarditis

3. The nurse is auscultating Mr. Nathaniel’s chest for a pericardial friction rub.
Where will the nurse auscultate in order to locate the rub?

 The nurse should auscultation with the diaphragm of the stethoscope over the left
lower sternal edge or apex during end expiration with the patient sitting up and
leaning forward or on hands and knees allows the best detection of the rub and
increases the likelihood of observing this finding