The patient is positioned in a recumbent position. Which approach should the nurse take to assess the patient's lung fields for a patient in this position?
A) Inform that physician that the patient is in a recumbent position and anticipate an order for a portable chest x-ray
B) Turn the patient to assess all lung fields so that dependent areas can be assessed for breath sounds
C) Avoid turning the patient, and assess the accessible breath sounds from the anterior chest wall
D) Obtain a pulse oximetry reading, and, if the reading is low, reposition the patient and auscultate breath sounds
Ans: B
Feedback: Assessment of the anterior and posterior lung fields is part of the nurse's routine evaluation. If the patient is recumbent, it is essential to turn the patient to assess all lung fields so that dependent areas can be assessed for breath sounds, including the presence of normal breath sounds and adventitious sounds. Failure to examine the dependent areas of the lungs can result in missing significant findings. This makes options A, C, and D incorrect.
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