The nurse is preparing to assess the thorax of an infant using the assessment technique of direct percussion. To correctly perform this assessment the nurse will use the:

Question

1. hyperextended middle finger of the nondominant hand.
2. closed fist of dominant hand.
3. palm of the nondominant hand.
4. fingertips of the dominant hand.

Answer 1

4
Rationale 1: Indirect percussion is the technique most commonly used and performed by placing the hyperextended middle finger of the nondominant hand firmly over the area to be examined and striking it with a plexor.
Rationale 2: Blunt percussion is used for assessing pain and tenderness in the gallbladder, liver, and kidneys and involves placing the palm of the nondominant hand flat against the body surface and striking the nondominant hand with the closed fist of the dominant hand.
Rationale 3: The palm of the nondominant hand is used to assess pain and tenderness of the gallbladder, liver, and kidneys in blunt percussion.
Rationale 4: Direct percussion is the technique of tapping the body with the fingertips of the dominant hand. It is used to assess thorax of an infant and also to assess the sinuses of an adult client.