When percussing over the liver of a patient, the nurse notices a dull sound. The nurse should:
a. Consider this a normal finding.
b. Palpate this area for an underlying mass.
c. Reposition the hands, and attempt to percuss in this area again.
d. Consider this finding as abnormal, and refer the patient for additional treatment.
ANS: A
Percussion over relatively dense organs, such as the liver or spleen, will produce a dull sound. The other responses are not correct.
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