Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Interviewing and Physical Assessment Related

Review Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Interviewing and Physical Assessment related questions and content

The LPN is transferring a medical client to the intensive care unit and is met by the RN. The RN is listening with the stethoscope to determine how much fluid the client may have in the lungs. What type of assessment technique is the RN performing?

  • A. Inspection
  • B. Palpation
  • C. Percussion
  • D. Auscultation
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Auscultation means listening with a stethoscope for normal and abnormal sounds generated by organs and structures such as the heart, lungs, intestines, and major arteries. Inspection is the visual observation of the client and specific structures. Palpation is the touching of the patient with the fingertips or hands. Percussion is tapping a portion of the body to determine if there is tenderness or to elicit sounds that vary according to the density of underlying structures.