CH 19: PrepU Thorax & Lungs

Which terms are used to identify the lobes of the right lung?

lower lobe upper lobe middle lobe Anteriorly, this fissure runs close to the 4th rib and meets the oblique fissure in the midaxillary line near the 5th rib. The right lung is thus divided into upper, middle, and lower lobes. The left lung has only two lobes, upper and lower. Neither base nor major are terms used to identify the lobes of the lung.

A nurse is receiving report from the night shift about four clients. Which client would the nurse see first?

A 64-year-old man with COPD who is short of breath and has a respiratory rate of 32 breaths/min

During the lung assessment for a client with pneumonia, the nurse auscultates low-pitched, bubbling, moist sounds that persist from early inspiration to early expiration. How should the nurse document these sounds?

Coarse crackles Low-pitched bubbling, moist sounds that persists from early inspiration to early expiration and sounds like softly separating Velcro should be documented as coarse crackles. These sounds are produced when inhaled air comes into contact with secretions in the large bronchi and trachea. Pleural friction rub is low-pitched, dry, grating sound that is superficial and occurs during both inspiration and expiration. Sonorous wheezes are low-pitched snoring or moaning sounds that may be heard primarily during expiration but may be heard throughout the respiratory cycle. Sibilant wheezes are high-pitched musical sounds heard primarily during expiration but may also be heard on inspiration.

A nurse palpates for tactile fremitus and notes that the vibrations diminish towards the base of the lungs. What should the nurse recognize about this finding?

Decreasing intensity is normal at the base

The client has been admitted through the emergency department with chronic bronchitis, has elevated CO2 levels, and has been placed on O2. What priority assessment would the nurse include?

Evaluate changes in respiratory pattern and rate. Observe quality and pattern of respiration. Note breathing characteristics as well as rate, rhythm, and depth. Labored and noisy breathing is often seen with severe asthma or chronic bronchitis.

A client comes to the clinic and states, "I have a bad cold and am having trouble breathing." The nurse checks the client's breath sounds and hears bilateral fine crackles at the base. Of what is this finding indicative?

Fluid in the alveoli When fluid fills the alveoli, fine crackles may be audible on auscultation. Excessive fluid in the alveoli may lead to airway collapse and decreased breath sounds.

A nurse asks a client to say "ninety-nine" while palpating the posterior thorax. The nurse is demonstrating effective technique in assessing for what respiratory characteristic?

Fremitus

What would the nurse expect to hear when auscultating the lungs of a client with pleuritis?

Friction rub In pleuritis, inflamed pleural surfaces lose their normal lubrication and rub together during breathing. Reduced volume of pleural fluid increases the transmission of lung sounds and leads to a possible friction rub. Decreased breath sounds may indicate an obstruction due to little air moving in and out. Sibilant wheezes are often heard with bronchitis; stridor occurs with severe broncholaryngospasms, such as croup.

A grandmother brings her 13-year-old grandson for evaluation. She noticed last week when he took off his shirt that his breastbone seemed collapsed. He seems embarrassed and says that it has been that way for awhile. He states he has no symptoms from it and that he just tries not to take off his shirt in front of anyone. He denies any shortness of breath, chest pain, or lightheadedness on exertion. His past medical history is unremarkable. He is in sixth grade and just moved in with his grandmother after his father was transferred for a work contract. His mother died several years ago in a car accident. He states that he does not smoke and has never touched alcohol. Examination shows a teenage boy appearing his stated age. Visual examination of his chest reveals that the lower portion of the sternum is depressed. Auscultation of the lungs and heart is unremarkable. What disorder of the thorax best describes these findings?

Funnel chest (pectus excavatum) Funnel chest is caused by a depression in the lower portion of the sternum. If severe enough there can be compression of the heart and great vessels, leading to murmurs on auscultation. This is usually only a cosmetic problem, but corrective surgeries can be performed if necessary.

What should be the nurse's initial intervention when adventitious sounds are heard during auscultation of a client's lungs?

Have client cough, then listen again.

After percussing a client's lung fields the nurse suspects a client has a chronic lung disease. What sound did the nurse hear to make this clinical determination?

Hyperresonance Generalized hyperresonance may be heard over hyperinflated lungs found in patients with emphysema, a chronic lung disease. A flat sound may be heard if a pleural effusion is present. A dull sound may be heard if the client has lobar pneumonia. Resonance is the expected sound heard over healthy lung tissue.

A client has a history of emphysema. The nurse percussing the client's chest expects to hear what characteristic sound?

Hyperresonance Hyperresonance would be noted in a client with emphysema due to air trapping. Dullness is noted with fluid or solid tissue replacing air in the lung. Resonance is the normal finding on lung percussion. Tympany would be noted over areas of air, such as a gastric bubble in the stomach.

A nurse is auscultating the bronchi of a client. The nurse understands that the bronchi are located in which of the following locations in the body?

In the mediastinum The thoracic cavity consists of the mediastinum and the lungs, and is lined by the pleural membranes. The mediastinum refers to a central area in the thoracic cavity that contains the trachea, bronchi, esophagus, heart, and great vessels.

A nurse auscultates a client's lungs and hears fine crackles. What is an appropriate action by the nurse?

Instruct the client to cough forcefully When auscultating crackles in the lung fields, the nurse should instruct the client to cough forcefully in an effort to open the airways. Then the nurse should auscultate again and note any changes. Lung sounds should be listened to with the diaphragm because they are high-pitched sounds. The bell is used for low-pitched sounds such as abnormal heart sounds. Breathing through the mouth lets the air in quicker but will not clear the airways. Use of accessory muscles is seen with respiratory distress.

Which action by a nurse demonstrates the proper sequence for auscultation of the lung fields?

Listen at each site for at least one complete respiratory cycle The client is instructed to breathe deeply though the mouth for each area as the nurse listens through inspiration and expiration. The sequence should be performed in an anterior then posterior sequence to avoid missing any areas. The bell is not used for breath sounds because it detects low pitched sound such as abnormal heart sounds

Auscultation of a 23-year-old client's lungs reveals an audible wheeze. What pathological phenomenon underlies wheezing?

Narrowing or partial obstruction of an airway passage

A nurse observes a client sitting in the tripod position. What is an appropriate action by the nurse in response to this observation?

Observe for the use of accessory muscles

An elderly client reports a feeling of dyspnea with normal activities of daily living. What is an appropriate action by the nurse?

Observe the client's respiratory rate and pattern It is normal for elderly clients to feel short of breath or dyspneic with activities of daily living due to age related changes of loss of elasticity, fewer functional capillaries, and loss of lung resiliency. Observing chest expansion would be appropriate assessment for a client with a pneumothorax. This finding does not need to be reported to the health care provider unless accompanied by other findings of inadequate oxygenation. Asking the client how long they need to rest between activities will not provide the nurse any objective information to differentiate the problem.

When auscultating the lungs, the nurse listens over symmetrical lung fields for which of the following?

One deep inspiration and expiration through the open mouth Lung auscultation is performed for one full breath over symmetrical lung fields. The client should be encouraged to breathe deeply through an open mouth.

A client who just underwent hip replacement surgery reports pain at a 10 on a scale of 0 to 10 and receives 4 mg of morphine. A nurse on the orthopedic unit enters the client's room and finds that the client has a respiratory rate of 7 breaths/min. The client is groggy and hard to arouse. What could be contributing to the client's findings?

Opiates, which may cause hypoventilation Opiates may reduce the ability of the brain to trigger breathing, causing hypoventilation (slow breathing). This scenario does not describe a reaction to anesthesia, and it is not a normal finding following surgery.

Which of the following would be best for a nurse to use when assessing for fremitus in a client?

Palmar base (ulnar surface) The palmar base or ulnar surface of the hand is best for assessing tactile fremitus because the area is especially sensitive to vibratory sensation. The dorsal surface of the hand is used to assess temperature. The fist is used in blunt percussion. Fingerpads are used for fine discrimination such as pulses, texture, and size.

While performing an assessment of a client who sustained a chest injury, which physical examination technique should the nurse use to elicit crepitus?

Palpation

A triage nurse is working in the emergency department of a busy hospital. Four patients have recently been admitted. Patient A has an arrhythmia diagnosed as atrial fibrillation; Patient B is in chronic congestive heart failure; Patient C is assessed and found to have a probable pulmonary embolism; Patient D complains of chest pain relieved by nitroglycerin and rest. Which patient would be the nurse's highest priority?

Patient C Cardiac emergencies that necessitate rapid assessment and intervention include acute coronary syndromes, acute decompensated heart failure, hypertensive crisis, cardiac tamponade, unstable cardiac arrhythmias, cardiogenic shock, systemic or pulmonary embolism, and aortic dissection.

A triage nurse is working in the emergency department of a busy hospital. Four patients have recently been admitted. Patient A has an arrhythmia diagnosed as atrial fibrillation; Patient B is in chronic congestive heart failure; Patient C is assessed and found to have a probable pulmonary embolism; Patient D complains of chest pain relieved by nitroglycerin and rest. Which patient would be the nurse's highest priority?

Patient C - probable pulmonary embolism

The nurse assesses an adult client's thoracic area and observes a markedly sunken sternum and adjacent cartilages. The nurse should document the client's __________.

Pectus excavatum

A client reports sharp and stabbing chest pain that worsens with deep breathing and coughing. A cardiac cause to this pain is ruled out. The description of the pain is consistent with what respiratory condition?

Pleurisy Pleurisy can follow inflammation of the parietal pleura. Patients usually describe such pain as sharp or stabbing, worsening with deep breathing or coughing. Pneumonia does not always cause pain on respiration nor does asthma. Rales are an adventitious breath sound, not a respiratory condition.

A 47-year-old receptionist comes to the office with fever, shortness of breath, and a productive cough with golden sputum. She says she had a cold last week and her symptoms have only worsened despite using over-the-counter cold remedies. She denies any weight gain, weight loss, or cardiac or gastrointestinal symptoms. Her past medical history includes type 2 diabetes for 5 years and high cholesterol level. She takes an oral medication for both diseases. She has had no surgeries. She denies tobacco, alcohol, or drug use. Her mother has diabetes and high blood pressure. Her father passed away from colon cancer. Examination reveals a middle-aged woman appearing her stated age. She looks ill and her temperature is elevated at 101 degrees Farenheit. Her blood pressure and pulse are unremarkable. Her head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat examination are unremarkable except for edema of the nasal turbinates. On auscultation she has decreased air movement and coarse crackles are heard over the left lower lobe. There is dullness on percussion, increased fremitus during palpation, and egophony and whispered pectoriloquy on auscultation. What disorder of the thorax or lung best describes her symptoms?

Pneumonia Pneumonia is usually associated with dyspnea, cough, and fever. On auscultation there can be coarse or fine crackles heard over the affected lobe. Percussion over the affected area is dull, and there is often an increase in fremitus. Egophony and pectoriloquy are heard because of increased sound transmission of high-pitched components of sounds. The multiple air-filled chambers of the alveoli usually filter out these higher frequencies.

A nurse is assessing a client with acute asthma. Which adventitious breath sound should the nurse expect to hear in this client?

Sibilant wheezes heard primarily during expiration but may also be heard on inspiration

Which of the following occurs in respiratory distress?

Skin between the ribs moves inward with inspiration. This description is consistent with retractions, which occur with respiratory distress. Other features include speaking in short sentences, use of accessory muscles, leaning forward to gain mechanical advantage for the diaphragm, and pursed lip breathing in which the client exhales against the lips, which are pressed together.

The nurse is planning a presentation to a group of high school students on the topic of lung cancer. Which of the following should the nurse plan to include in the presentation?

Studies have indicated that there is a genetic component in the development of lung cancer.

Which observation confirms to the nurse that the client is experiencing a normal inspiration?

The thoracic cavity enlarges. The diaphragm is the primary muscle of inspiration. When it contracts during inhalation, it descends in the chest and enlarges the thoracic cavity. At the same time, it compresses the abdominal contents, pushing the abdominal wall outward. Intrathoracic pressure decreases, drawing air through the tracheobronchial tree into the alveoli, or distal air sacs, and expanding the lungs. It is during expiration that the diaphragm relaxes.

The nurse assesses an adult client and observes that the client's breathing pattern is very labored and noisy, with occasional coughing. The nurse should refer the client to a physician for possible

chronic bronchitis. Labored and noisy breathing is often seen with severe asthma or chronic bronchitis

The thin double-layered serous membrane that lines the chest cavity is termed

Parietal pleura

A client in the ED tells the nurse that she is having difficulty breathing at rest. What term would the nurse use in documenting this finding?

Dyspnea

While inspecting the thorax, the nurse views it from posterior and lateral positions to assess which of the following?

Anteroposterior to lateral diameter

Which of the following muscles is primarily responsible for thoracic cavity enlargement?

Diaphragm

When assessing posteriorly, where would the trachea bifurcate into its mainstem bronchi?

T4 spinal process

What replaces resonance when fluid or solid tissue replaces air-containing lung or occupies the pleural space?

Dullness Dullness replaces resonance when fluid or solid tissue replaces air-containing lung or occupies the pleural space.

The strongest stimulus for increased respiration

Hypercapnia

A client presents to the health care facility with a 2-week history of persistent dry, hacky cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath with activity. The client admits to a 1-pack-per-day history of cigarette smoking for 20 years. The nurse observes a respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute, easy and regular. Which nursing diagnosis should the nurse confirm based on this assessment data?

Impaired Gas Exchange Impaired Gas Exchange related to chronic lung tissue damage secondary to chronic smoking can be confirmed because of the major criteria of long-standing smoking, shortness of breath, and activity intolerance.

What color of sputum would support the diagnosis of heart failure?

Pink

What is the best guide to make vertical locations on the chest?

Sternal angle To make vertical locations, you must be able to count the ribs and interspaces. The sternal angle, also termed the angle of Louis, is the best guide.

In palpating the chest of a client, a nurse feels a U-shaped indentation on the superior border of the manubrium. The nurse recognizes this landmark as which of the following?

Suprasternal notch

What action by the nurse when percussing a client's chest will help maximize the resulting vibrations?

touching the chest with only the pleximeter finger Making surface contact between any other part of the hand, except the finger, and the chest will result in a dampening out of the vibrations. The remaining options present correct information, but these actions are not directly associated with maximizing the resulting vibrations.

The client reports severe pain when breathing in deeply. The description suggests to the nurse that the client is experiencing which respiratory condition?

Inflammation of the parietal pleura

While assessing an adult client's lungs during the postoperative period, the nurse detects coarse crackles. The nurse should refer the client to a physician for possible __________.

Pneumonia

A young toddler is brought to the emergency room by his parents. The mother states that the child was playing on the floor with toys and suddenly began to wheeze. The mother reports no recent illnesses. The nurse suspects that the most likely cause of the wheezing is

A foreign body obstruction

The nurse is preparing to auscultate the lung sounds of a young adult. Which sound will the nurse expect to hear over most of the patient's lungs?

Vesicular

A nurse is interviewing a client who complains of dyspnea of sudden onset. Based on this finding, the nurse should suspect which of the following causes?

Bacterial infection

The nurse is preparing to percuss a patient's anterior chest area. Which approach will the nurse use for this assessment?

Begin above the right clavicle and percuss each section comparing the right chest with the left chest.

While assessing the thoracic area of an adult client, the nurse plans to auscultate for voice sounds. To assess bronchophony, the nurse should ask the client to

Repeat the phrase "Ninety-nine"

A client presents to the health care clinic and reports a recent onset of a persistent cough. The client denies any shortness of breath, change in activity level, or other findings of an acute upper respiratory tract illness. What question by the nurse is most appropriate to further assess the cause for the cough?

"Are you taking any medications on a regular basis?"

A 21-year-old college senior presents to the clinic reporting shortness of breath and a nonproductive nocturnal cough. She states she used to feel this way only with extreme exercise, but lately she has felt this way continuously. She denies any other upper respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary symptoms and says she has no chest pain. Her past medical history is significant only for seasonal allergies, for which she takes a nasal steroid spray; she takes no other medications. She has had no surgeries. Her mother has allergies and eczema; her father has high blood pressure. She is an only child. She denies smoking and illegal drug use but drinks three to four alcoholic beverages per weekend. She is a junior in finance at a local university and has recently started a job as a bartender in town. On examination she is in no acute distress. Temperature is 98.6, blood pressure is 120/80, pulse is 80, and respirations are 20. Head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat examinations are essentially normal. Inspection of her anterior and posterior chest shows no abnormalities. On auscultation of her chest, there is decreased air movement and a high-pitched whistling on expiration in all lobes. Percussion reveals resonant lungs. Which disorder of the thorax or lung does this presentation best describe?

Asthma Asthma causes shortness of breath and a nocturnal cough. It is often associated with a history of allergies and can be exacerbated by exercise or irritants such as smoke in a bar. On auscultation there can be normal to decreased air movement. Wheezing is heard on expiration and sometimes inspiration. The duration of wheezing in expiration usually correlates with the severity of illness, so it is important to document this length (e.g., wheezes heard halfway through exhalation). In severe asthma, wheezes may not be heard because of the lack of air movement. Paradoxically, these clients may have more wheezes after treatment, which actually indicates an improvement in condition. Peak flow measurements help to discern this.

A nurse performs a respiratory assessment on a client and notes the respiratory rate to be 8 breaths per minute. The nurse knows the proper term for this rate is what?

Bradypnea A respiratory rate of less than 10 breaths per minute is called bradypnea. Tachypnea is a respiratory rate greater than 24 breaths per minute. Hyperventilation is used to describe respirations that are increased in rate and depth. Hypoventilation is a rate that is decreased, with a decrease in depth and with an irregular pattern.

Lung sound present when expiration is longer than inspiration; the sound is louder and higher in pitch with a short silence between inspiration and expiration.

Bronchial

A client experiences increasing difficulty taking in a deep breath. For which health problem should the nurse focus when assessing this client?

COPD

An elderly client reports a feeling of dyspnea with normal activities of daily living. What is an appropriate action by the nurse?

Observe the client's respiratory rate and pattern

The nurse percusses the lungs of a patient with pneumonia. What percussion note would the nurse expect to document?

Dullness

What would the nurse expect to hear when auscultating the lungs of a client diagnosed with pleuritis?

Friction rub

The nurse is reviewing the client's health history and notes he has pectus excavatum. The nurse would assess the client for what?

Funnel chest

When auscultating the lungs, the nurse listens over symmetrical lung fields for which of the following?

One deep inspiration and expiration through the open mouth

Which action by a nurse demonstrates proper technique for assessment of chest expansion?

Place both hands on the posterior chest at T9, press thumbs together, and then ask client to take a deep breath The correct technique for assessment of chest expansion is for the examiner to place the hands on the posterior chest wall with thumbs at the level of T9 or T110 and pressing together a small skin fold. Ask the client to take a deep breath and observe the movement of the thumbs. Using the ball of the hand to feel vibration tests for tactile fremitus. Percussion of the posterior chest wall assesses for tone. The use of a stethoscope is auscultation and this technique assesses for adventitious sounds within the lungs.

The nurse obtains a flat sound when percussing the right lower lobe of a patient. What does this assessment finding indicate to the nurse?

Pleural effusion

When percussing the anterior chest for tone, a nurse should anticipate what tone over the majority of the lung fields?

Resonance Normal lung tissue elicits a resonance tone when percussed. Hyperresonance is elicited in cases of trapped air such as in emphysema or pneumothorax. Dullness may characterize areas of increased density such as consolidation, pleural effusion, or tumor. Tympany is elicited over air filled spaces such as puffed out check or stomach bubble.

When percussing the posterior lung fields, which of the following findings is expected?

Resonance over all lung fields All lung tissue is expected to be resonant on percussion. Hyperresonance and tympany suggest a hyperinflated lung or pneumothorax. Dullness is expected in structures below the level of the diaphragm, but dullness in the bases of the lungs themselves would be considered pathological.

The spinous process termed the vertebra prominens is in which cervical vertebra?

Seventh

The spinous process termed the vertebra prominens is in which cervical vertebra?

Seventh. The spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra (C7), also called the vertebra prominens, can be easily felt with the client's neck flexed.

A high-pitched crowing sound from the upper airway results from tracheal or laryngeal spasm and is called what?

Stridor Stridor, a high-pitched crowing sound from the upper airway, results from tracheal or laryngeal spasm. In severe laryngospasm, the larynx may completely close off. This life-threatening emergency requires immediate medical assistance. Crackles, wheezes, and rales are adventitious breath sounds heard upon auscultation of the lungs.

Which statement is true regarding client positioning when attempting to identify intercostal spaces during a respiratory assessment?

Women should be assessed while in a supine position.

The nurse documents vesicular lung sounds upon auscultation. The nurse heard what type of sound?

sound heard throughout inspiration and two thirds of expiration

An adult client visits the clinic and tells the nurse that he has been "spitting up rust-colored sputum." The nurse should refer the client to the physician for possible

tuberculosis. Rust-colored sputum is associated with tuberculosis or pneumococcal pneumonia

A client presents to the health care clinic and reports a recent onset of a persistent cough. The client denies any shortness of breath, change in activity level, or other findings of an acute upper respiratory tract illness. What question by the nurse is most appropriate to further assess the cause for the cough?

"Are you taking any medications on a regular basis?" A persistent cough without any other respiratory symptoms could be related to new medications, especially beta blockers or angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which are prescribed for hypertension. A change in diet and exercise are healthy behaviors that would not cause a persistent cough. Stress often causes shortness of breath.

A hospitalized client experiences respiratory distress. The nurse should include which most appropriate client outcome in the plan of care?

Airway patent, breathing quiet, denies dyspnea

Where is the apex of each lung located?

Area slightly above the clavicle

The nurse is preparing to auscultate the posterior thorax of an adult female client. The nurse should

Ask the client to breathe deeply through her mouth.

Upon inspection of a client's chest, a nurse observes an increase in the ratio of anteroposterior to transverse diameter. The nurse recognizes this as a finding in which disease process?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease An increase in the ratio of anteroposterior to transverse diameter is seen in clients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This occurs because of air trapped in the airways that causes hyperinflation and overdistention. Carcinoma of the lungs, pneumothorax, and tuberculosis do not change the chest diameter.

During the lung assessment for a client with pneumonia, the nurse auscultates low-pitched, bubbling, moist sounds that persist from early inspiration to early expiration. How should the nurse document these sounds?

Coarse crackles

When auscultating a client's lungs, the nurse hears a sound like Velcro being pulled apart over the client's right middle lobe. How should the nurse document this finding?

Coarse crackles

The client has been admitted through the emergency department with chronic bronchitis, has elevated CO2 levels, and has been placed on O2. What priority assessment would the nurse include?

Evaluate changes in respiratory pattern and rate.

Which characteristic feature of the sternum should the nurse observe in a client with the diagnosis of pectus carinatum?

Forward protrusion

A nurse is palpating the sternum of a client. If the client is healthy, which of the following would characterize his costal angle?

Less than 90 degrees

Which action by a nurse demonstrates the proper sequence for auscultation of the lung fields?

Listen at each site for at least one complete respiratory cycle

A client is brought to the emergency department by ambulance after being involved in a motor vehicle accident. The nurse finds that he has decreased breath sounds over the left lung fields. What might the nurse suspect is the cause?

Pneumothorax

The client tells the nurse that he has been coughing up pink, frothy sputum. The nurse notifies the health care provider because the client may have what condition?

Pulmonary adema

A client arrives in the emergency department after a severe motor vehicle accident. The nurse observes irregular respirations of varying depth and rate followed by periods of apnea. What pathophysiological process is likely the cause of this breathing pattern?

Severe brain damage

The nurse is planning to percuss the chest of an adult male client for diaphragmatic excursion. The nurse should begin the assessment by

asking the client to exhale forcefully and hold his breath. When percussing for diaphragmatic excursion ask the client to exhale forcefully and hold the breath.

Which of the following statements relating to assessment of the lungs and thorax is most accurate?

Bronchitis is characterized by excess mucus production and chronic cough. Bronchitis is marked by a chronic, productive cough that results from excess mucus production. Hemoptysis is uncommon in younger clients. It would be simplistic to differentiate cardiac from respiratory chest pain based on severity alone. Similarly, it is inaccurate to characterize all loud percussion sounds as pathological.

A 62-year-old construction worker presents to the clinic reporting almost a chronic cough and occasional shortness of breath that have lasted for almost 1 year. Although symptoms have occasionally worsened with a cold, they have stayed about the same. The cough has occasional mucus drainage but never any blood. He denies any chest pain. He has had no weight gain, weight loss, fever, or night sweats. His past medical history is significant for high blood pressure and arthritis. He has smoked two packs a day for the past 45 years. He drinks occasionally but denies any illegal drug use. He is married with two children. He denies any foreign travel. His father died of a heart attack and his mother died of Alzheimer's disease. Examination reveals a man looking slightly older than his stated age. His blood pressure is 130/80 and his pulse is 88. He is breathing comfortably with respirations of 12. His head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat examinations are unremarkable. His cardiac examination is normal. On examination of his chest, the diameter seems enlarged. Breath sounds are decreased throughout all lobes. Rhonchi are heard over all lung fields. There is no area of dullness and no increased or decreased fremitus. What thorax or lung disorder is most likely causing his symptoms?

COPD This disorder is insidious in onset and generally affects the older population with a smoking history. The diameter of the chest is often enlarged like a barrel. Percussing the chest elicits hyperresonance; during auscultation there is often distant breath sounds. Coarse breath sounds of rhonchi are also often heard. It is important to quantify this client's exercise capacity because it may affect his employment and also allows examiners to follow the progression of his disease. Clinicians must offer smoking cessation as an option.

A client in the ED tells the nurse that she is having difficulty breathing at rest. What term would the nurse use in documenting this finding?

Dyspnea Dyspnea is a subjective term used when the client reports labored breathing and breathlessness. This response to exercise or heavy activity is normal if it rapidly disappears upon return to rest. Difficulty breathing, in appropriate medical terminology, is not tachypnea, shortness of breath, or anxiety.

Stridor

High-pitched crowing sound from the upper airway that results from tracheal or laryngeal spasm

A nurse assesses the respiration pattern on a client who arrives in the emergency department due to an overdose of narcotics. The nurse notes that the respirations are decreased in rate and depth, and have an irregular pattern. How should the nurse document this finding?

Hypoventilation Hypoventilation is decreased rate, decreased depth, and irregular pattern of respiration. A client with regular pattern characterized by alternating periods of deep, rapid breathing followed by periods of apnea has Cheyne-Stokes respiration. A client with irregular pattern characterized by varying depth and rate of respirations followed by periods of apnea has Biot's respiration. A client with bradypnea may have a regular respiration rate of less than 10/min.

A client presents to the health care facility with sudden onset of shortness of breath, inability to lie flat, and a deep, wet cough. A nurse observes a respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute, use of accessory muscles to breathe, and inability to cough up secretions. Which nursing diagnosis can be confirmed with this data?

Ineffective airway clearance

A new nurse on the telemetry unit is reviewing information about how to correctly read electrocardiograms. The nurse is expected to know that the PR interval represents what event?

The time from firing of the sinoatrial (SA)node to the beginning of depolarization in the ventricle

Which characteristic associated with respiratory effort should be considered when planning care for a client diagnosed with a brainstem injury?

There is loss of involuntary respiratory control.

Which finding during an assessment of a client should alert the nurse to the presence of a persistent atelectasis?

Unequal expansion of the chest

A young toddler is brought to the emergency room by his parents. The mother states that the child was playing on the floor with toys and suddenly began to wheeze. The mother reports no recent illnesses. The nurse suspects that the most likely cause of the wheezing is

a foreign body obstruction

A client presents to the health care facility with sudden onset of shortness of breath, inability to lie flat, and a deep, wet cough. A nurse observes a respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute, use of accessory muscles to breathe, and inability to cough up secretions. Which nursing diagnosis can be confirmed with this data

Ineffective Airway Clearance The nurse observes the client's inability to cough up secretions which is a major defining characteristic for accepting the nursing diagnosis of Ineffective Airway Clearance. There is no indication that this client has or is at risk for an infection. Impaired Gas Exchange can not be confirmed because there is no indication that the client is having poor muscle tone or has damage to lung tissue. For Ineffective Breathing Pattern to be confirmed the client must demonstrate a pattern of hyper or hypoventilation.

The thoracic cavity contains which of the following organs

Most of the esophagus Lungs Heart

How should a nurse position a client to accurately auscultate the right middle lobe of the lung?

Move the right arm away from the body.

The staff educator from the hospital's respiratory unit is providing a public educational event. The educator is talking about health promotion activities for people with respiratory diseases or those who are at high risk for respiratory complications. What would the educator include in the presentation?

Teaching strategies to reduce complications of existing diagnoses

Which type of breath sounds should a nurse anticipate on auscultation of the right lower lobe in a client with right lower lobe pneumonia?

Bronchial

Which of the following occurs in respiratory distress?

Skin between the ribs moves inward with inspiration.