In auscultating for the presence of a carotid artery bruit, the nurse places the bell of the stethoscope at which location?

To auscultate for the presence of a carotid artery bruit, the nurse should place the bell of the stethoscope over the carotid artery. Specifically, the nurse should place the bell of the stethoscope lightly on the skin just medial to the sternocleidomastoid muscle at the level of the thyroid cartilage. The carotid artery can be found in the neck, just lateral to the trachea and medial to the sternocleidomastoid muscle.