The nurse is percussing the anterior chest of an elderly client. Which of the following would the nurse expect to find in this client?
1. Flatness
2. Dullness
3. Tympany
4. Hyperresonance
4
Rationale 1: Percussion over bone will yield flat sounds.
Rationale 2: Percussion over solid organs or bones will yield a dull sound.
Rationale 3: Tympany is heard when percussion is performed over an air bubble.
Rationale 4: As a client ages, the function of the respiratory system becomes less efficient. The older adult's lungs lose their elasticity, muscles begin to weaken, and bones lose their density. Trapping of air in the alveoli will produce a hyperresonance sound upon percussion of the chest.
You might also like to view...
A patient being assessed for cardiac illness states, "My previous doctor told me I had a type D personality.". How would the nurse interpret this information?
1. The last physician must have been a psychiatrist. 2. The patient thrives in a high-stress environment. 3. The patient probably avoids social contact and focuses on negative emotions. 4. This patient has been treated for depression.
If language is a barrier, the interpreter should be:
a. a family member. b. a language board. c. a professional interpreter d. a staff person.
Magnesium deficiency may occur in association with
a. lactation. b. type 1 diabetes. c. excessive vomiting and diarrhea. d. dehydration attributable to heat exposure.
A 45-year-old patient has a dysfunction of the cerebellum. The nurse will plan interventions to
a. prevent falls. b. stabilize mood. c. avoid aspiration. d. improve memory.