What should the nurse do when assessing the carotid arteries of an older patient with cardiovascular disease?

Choice A reason: Simultaneously palpating both carotid arteries is dangerous, risking reduced cerebral blood flow, especially in cardiovascular patients. Using the bell to listen for bruits is safer, so this is incorrect. Choice B reason: Deep breaths are for lung auscultation, not carotid, where patients hold breath to reduce noise. The bell detects low-pitched bruits, so instructing deep breaths is incorrect for carotid assessment. Choice C reason: Compressing the carotid artery risks reducing blood flow or dislodging plaques, which is unsafe. Listening with the bell for bruits is the standard method, so this is incorrect. Choice D reason: Listening with the bell of the stethoscope detects low-frequency bruits, indicating carotid artery narrowing, which is critical in cardiovascular disease. This is the correct technique for safe assessment.