A male client arrives at the clinic for follow-up health assessment after recent antibiotic treatment for pneumonia without hospitalization. Which technique should the nurse implement to assess for adventitious lung sounds?

Press the stethoscope's diaphragm firmly on the skin over each lung field.

Use the bell of the stethoscope to listen to the lung fields over lower lobes.

Shave all chest hair that may distort sounds heard through the diaphragm.

Have the client lay flat while listening to the anterior surface of the chest.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A) Press the stethoscope's diaphragm firmly on the skin over each lung field: The diaphragm of the stethoscope is best for hearing high-pitched sounds, such as breath sounds, including adventitious lung sounds like crackles, wheezes, and rhonchi. Pressing the diaphragm firmly against the skin ensures optimal transmission of these sounds, allowing for accurate assessment of the client's lung condition.

B) Use the bell of the stethoscope to listen to the lung fields over lower lobes: The bell of the stethoscope is designed to pick up low-pitched sounds and is typically used for heart sounds and vascular sounds. It is not the best choice for auscultating breath sounds in the lungs, which are better heard with the diaphragm.

C) Shave all chest hair that may distort sounds heard through the diaphragm: While chest hair can sometimes cause distortion, it is generally not necessary to shave the chest. Instead, pressing the diaphragm firmly against the skin can help minimize interference from chest hair. If needed, the nurse can also moisten the chest hair to reduce the sound interference.

D) Have the client lay flat while listening to the anterior surface of the chest: Although certain positions can aid in auscultation, lying flat is not always necessary and can be uncomfortable for clients with respiratory issues. Sitting up or in a semi-recumbent position is generally more comfortable and effective for assessing lung sounds.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A) Stand directly in front of the client and ask about any hearing loss:
The client's behavior of ignoring questions and speaking loudly to her son may suggest a hearing impairment. By standing directly in front of the client and asking about any hearing loss, the nurse can assess whether hearing impairment might be contributing to the communication difficulties. This action addresses a potential physiological cause of the observed behavior and allows the nurse to gather essential information to adapt communication strategies effectively.

B) Perform a mental status exam to assess the client's thought processes:
While assessing the client's mental status is important, the observed behavior may be more indicative of a communication issue related to hearing loss rather than a cognitive impairment. Therefore, assessing hearing status would be more appropriate as the initial action.

C) Begin to orient the client to her surroundings in the hospital room:
Orienting the client to her surroundings is important for promoting comfort and reducing confusion, but it may not directly address the observed communication difficulties. Assessing for hearing loss should be prioritized to determine if it contributes to the client's behavior.

D) Obtain a tuning fork to complete Rinne and Weber tuning fork tests:
Conducting Rinne and Weber tuning fork tests may be indicated to assess hearing acuity and differentiate between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. However, obtaining a tuning fork and performing these tests should occur after gathering initial information about the client's hearing status through direct questioning. Therefore, assessing for hearing loss should be the first action taken by the nurse.

A. White blood cell count (WBC). B. Hematocrit. C. Glucose. D. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN).

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A) White blood cell count (WBC): While an elevated WBC count can indicate infection or inflammation, it is not directly related to melena. Melena, which is black, tarry stool, is usually an indication of gastrointestinal bleeding, specifically from the upper GI tract.

B) Hematocrit: Hematocrit is a measure of the proportion of red blood cells in the blood. Monitoring hematocrit is essential in the context of melena because gastrointestinal bleeding can lead to a decrease in red blood cells, causing anemia. Therefore, tracking hematocrit levels helps assess the severity of blood loss and the client's overall oxygen-carrying capacity.

C) Glucose: Blood glucose levels are not directly related to melena. Monitoring glucose is crucial for managing diabetes and other metabolic disorders but does not provide information about bleeding or anemia.

D) Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): While BUN levels can increase with gastrointestinal bleeding due to the breakdown of blood proteins in the gut, it is not the primary test to monitor for the effects of bleeding. Hematocrit is more directly indicative of blood loss.

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A male client arrives at the clinic for follow-up health assessment after recent antibiotic treatment for pneumonia without hospitalization. Which technique should the nurse implement to assess for adventitious lung sounds?

Nursing Test Bank

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