A nurse and a nursing student are caring for a client with pericarditis and perform the physical assessment together. The client has a pericardial friction rub audible on auscultation. When the nurse and student leave the room, the student asks how to distinguish a pericardial from a pleural friction rub. The nurse's best response is which of the following?
a) "You must listen for at least 4 minutes to distinguish between the two."
b) "Have the client stand while you auscultate; the pleural friction rub will continue, while the pericardial friction rub will stop."
c) "There is really no way to tell the difference; they both sound exactly alike."
d) "Ask the client to hold the breath while you auscultate; the pericardial friction rub will continue, while the pleural friction rub will stop."
Answer: "Ask the client to hold the breath while you auscultate; the pericardial friction rub will continue, while the pleural friction rub will stop."