The nurse is preparing to percuss a client'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.
Begin at the sternal notch and percuss all areas on the left chest, then all areas on the right chest.
Begin at the sternal notch and percuss all areas on the right chest, then all areas on the left chest.
Begin above the left clavicle and percuss all areas on the left chest, then reverse the process and assess the right chest, moving upward from the liver.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A Reason:
This approach is recommended as it allows for a systematic comparison between the two sides of the chest. Percussion should start at the apices of the lungs, which are located just above the clavicles, and proceed downwards. This method ensures that any differences in percussion note, which could indicate underlying pathology, are identified by direct comparison.
Choice B Reason:
While this approach also involves a systematic assessment, it does not allow for immediate comparison between the two sides of the chest. It is important to compare corresponding areas on each side as you go to detect any asymmetry or changes in resonance.
Choice C Reason:
This method, similar to choice B, does not facilitate immediate side-to-side comparison during the assessment. Immediate comparison is crucial for identifying subtle differences that may indicate conditions such as pleural effusion or pneumothorax.
Choice D Reason:
Starting the percussion above the left clavicle and moving to the right chest after completing the left side does not allow for direct comparison of symmetrical chest areas. Additionally, assessing the right chest moving upward from the liver is not a standard practice, as the liver dullness can interfere with the percussion of the lower right lung fields.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice a reason:
Pigeon Chest, or pectus carinatum, is a condition where the breastbone is pushed outward, and the chest appears to protrude. It is not typically associated with a barrel-shaped chest, which is characterized by a rounded and bulging appearance.
Choice b reason:
Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs, which may fill with fluid or pus. While it can cause chest expansion, it does not lead to a barrel-shaped chest. The barrel-shaped chest is more indicative of a chronic condition rather than an acute infection like pneumonia.
Choice c reason:
Funnel Chest, or pectus excavatum, is a condition where the breastbone is sunken into the chest. Unlike a barrel-shaped chest, funnel chest gives the chest a depressed appearance.
Choice d reason:
COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is commonly associated with a barrel-shaped chest. This shape results from the chronic hyperinflation of the lungs due to obstructive lung disease, which causes the rib cage to remain expanded.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason:
Diabetes mellitus is not typically associated with pitting edema unless it has led to a comorbid condition such as heart failure or kidney disease. Pitting edema is more commonly associated with fluid retention due to the body's inability to manage fluid balance, which is not a direct consequence of diabetes mellitus itself.
Choice B reason:
Liver disease, particularly cirrhosis, can lead to pitting edema. The liver's inability to produce albumin, a protein that helps maintain oncotic pressure in the blood vessels, and portal hypertension, which is an increase in the blood pressure within the portal vein system, can both contribute to the development of pitting edema.
Choice C reason:
End-stage renal disease can also cause pitting edema due to the kidneys' inability to excrete excess fluid. However, the edema associated with renal disease is often more generalized and not limited to the lower extremities.
Choice D reason:
Colon cancer is not typically associated with pitting edema unless it has metastasized and caused secondary complications that affect the liver or the heart. Pitting edema is not a direct symptom of colon cancer itself. 
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