Nokea
A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is being assessed by a nurse. Which finding does the nurse expect?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Increased anteroposterior (AP) chest diameter. In COPD, the chronic obstruction of airflow leads to air trapping in the lungs, causing the chest to expand more front-to-back (increased AP diameter). This is known as "barrel chest" and is a characteristic finding in COPD due to hyperinflation of the lungs.
Incorrect choices:
B: Decreased respiratory rate is not expected in COPD as patients may have increased respiratory rate due to difficulty breathing.
C: Weight gain is not a typical finding in COPD as patients often experience weight loss due to increased energy expenditure and decreased appetite.
D: Productive cough with yellow sputum is common in COPD, but it is not the most specific finding for this condition.