HEALTH ASSESSMENT: ASSESSING THORAX
AND LUNGS EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS 100%
GUARANTEED PASS
A 21-year-old college senior presents to the clinic reporting shortness of
breath and a non-productive 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 - ANS ✓Correct response:
Asthma
Explanation: 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. (less)
Reference: Chapter 19: Assessing Thorax and Lungs, p. 385.
When percussing the anterior chest for tone, a nurse should anticipate
what tone over the majority of the lung fields?
1
Health Assessment
, Health
a) Resonance
b) Tympany
c) Hyperresonance
d) Dullness - ANS ✓Correct response: Resonance
Explanation:
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 tumour. Tympany is elicited over air
filled spaces such as puffed out check or stomach bubble. (less)
Reference: Chapter 19: Assessing Thorax and Lungs, p. 387.
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?
a) Dyspnea
b) Shortness of breath
c) Tachypnea
d) Anxiety - ANS ✓Correct response: Dyspnea
Explanation:
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. (less)
Reference: Chapter 19: Assessing Thorax and Lungs, p. 374.
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?
a) Lung cancer
2
Health Assessment
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