Final answer:
There are four steps involved in checking for lung sounds in a patient: listening for abnormal sounds, assessing breathing, listening while coughing, and performing percussions.
Step-by-step explanation:
When checking for lung sounds in a patient, there are generally four steps involved:
- First, the clinician places a stethoscope on the patient's chest and back to listen for any abnormal sounds or murmurs.
- Next, the clinician may ask the patient to take deep breaths to assess for any wheezing or crackling sounds during inhalation and exhalation.
- Then, the clinician may ask the patient to cough while the stethoscope is placed on their chest to listen for any abnormal sounds that may indicate infection or congestion.
- Finally, the clinician may perform percussions, which involve gently tapping the patient's chest, to assess for abnormal sounds that may indicate fluid or congestion.