Which assessment findings would the nurse evaluate as supporting the diagnosis of flail chest? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply
1. An area of the chest wall is depressed when the patient inspires.
2. The patient's cough is weak and causes obvious pain.
3. The patient's chest x-ray reveals a broken rib.
4. The patient's respirations are shallow.
5. The patient has a sucking chest wound.
1,2,4
Rationale 1: Flail chest is characterized by paradoxical chest movement.
Rationale 2: The instability in the chest wall results in an ineffective cough and pain when coughing.
Rationale 3: In flail chest, two or more ribs are broken in two or more places.
Rationale 4: Flail chest results in decreased tidal volume and decreased vital capacity.
Rationale 5: A sucking chest wound does not indicate flail chest.
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