ATI Medsurg Proctored Final Exam Related

Review ATI Medsurg Proctored Final Exam related questions and content

A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is performing an admission assessment of a client who has COPD with emphysema. The client reports that he has a frequent productive cough and is short of breath. The nurse should anticipate which of the following assessment findings for this client?

  • A. Fine crackles in the lungs
  • B. Increased anteroposterior diameter of the chest
  • C. Increased tactile fremitus
  • D. Fever and chills
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Increased anteroposterior diameter of the chest. In COPD with emphysema, there is air trapping leading to hyperinflation of the lungs, causing the chest to expand more in the front-to-back direction (increased anteroposterior diameter). This is known as barrel chest.
A: Fine crackles are not typically associated with COPD/emphysema, they are more common in conditions like heart failure or pneumonia.
C: Increased tactile fremitus is not typically seen in COPD/emphysema, it may be present in conditions like pneumonia.
D: Fever and chills are not typical findings in COPD/emphysema unless there is an infection present.