A nurse is precepting a new nurse on respiratory assessments. Which statement by the new nurse indicates an understanding of what should be felt during the assessment when placing hands on the posterior lateral chest during deep breathing?

Choice A reason: Assessment of thoracic excursion or chest expansion is a vital part of the respiratory exam. The nurse should feel the hands move apart symmetrically as the client inhales deeply. This indicates that the musculoskeletal structures, the pleural membranes, and the underlying lung parenchyma are expanding uniformly on both the left and right sides of the thorax. Choice B reason: Pain during expansion, or pleuritic pain, is a pathological finding that suggests inflammation of the parietal pleura. A student or new nurse should recognize that a normal assessment is painless. Feeling pain during this maneuver indicates a need for further investigation into conditions such as pleurisy, pulmonary embolism, or rib fractures. Choice C reason: Crepitus is a tactile "crunching" or "popping" sensation caused by air trapped in the subcutaneous tissues, often referred to as subcutaneous emphysema. While this is an important finding to document if present, it is an abnormal condition resulting from trauma or air leaks and is not a feature of a normal respiratory assessment. Choice D reason: A total lack of movement of the rib cage during deep inspiration would indicate severe respiratory compromise, such as neuromuscular paralysis or advanced restrictive lung disease. The goal of the assessment is to quantify the degree and symmetry of movement; therefore, "no movement" would be a critical clinical finding rather than an expected result.