A male client arrives at the clinic for a follow-up health assessment after recent antibiotic treatment for pneumonia without hospitalization. Which technique should the nurse implement to assess for adventitious lung sounds?
Explanation & Rationale
A. Having the client lay flat while listening to the anterior surface of the chest may not provide the best assessment of lung sounds, especially if the client is uncomfortable or if the posterior lung fields are not assessed. A sitting position is generally preferred for lung auscultation. B. Pressing the stethoscope's diaphragm firmly on the skin over each lung field is the correct technique for assessing lung sounds. The diaphragm is better suited for detecting high-pitched sounds, such as wheezes, crackles, and other adventitious lung sounds. C. Shaving chest hair may reduce extraneous noise but is unnecessary in most cases. Pressing the diaphragm firmly can usually eliminate the interference caused by hair, and shaving is not a standard procedure for lung auscultation. D. The bell of the stethoscope is used for detecting lower-pitched sounds, such as heart murmurs, not for lung auscultation. The diaphragm is the appropriate tool for assessing adventitious lung sounds in all lung fields.