The nurse is using blunt percussion to assess a patient who was involved in a motor vehicle accident

Question

The nurse would use this technique to assess for injury to which organs? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply. 1. Kidney
2. Liver
3. Lungs
4. Bladder
5. Heart

Answer 1

1,2
Rationale 1: Blunt percussion is often used as a quick screen for inflammation or damage to the kidney.
Rationale 2: Blunt percussion over the liver that elicits pain would indicate injury.
Rationale 3: Blunt percussion is not used to assess the lungs.
Rationale 4: Indirect percussion is used to assess the bladder.
Rationale 5: Blunt percussion is not used to assess the heart.