Final answer:
Jugular vein distention (JVD) is a symptom characteristic of right-sided heart failure, as it reflects increased venous pressure due to the heart's inability to pump blood effectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse identifies Jugular vein distention (JVD) as a characteristic of right-sided heart failure. Right-sided heart failure typically leads to increased pressure in the vena cavae and results in systemic symptoms such as JVD, which is a visible bulging of the neck veins. It indicates that the right side of the heart is not functioning properly, which causes a backlog of blood in the systemic circulation, leading to venous congestion. This is unlike pulmonary symptoms such as cough, dyspnea, or pulmonary crackles, which are more characteristic of left-sided heart failure due to the backup of blood into the pulmonary circulation leading to pulmonary edema.