During a physical assessment, the nurse observes a patient experiencing a sudden audible expulsion of air from the lungs. The nurse should document that the patient is experiencing:
a. dyspnea.
b. cyanosis.
c. coughing.
d. ecchymosis.
C
Coughing is a sudden audible expulsion of air from the lungs. Coughing is an essential protective response that serves to clear the lungs, bronchi, or trachea of irritants and secretions or to prevent aspiration of foreign material into the lungs. It is a common sign of diseases of the larynx, bronchi, and lungs.
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