Final answer:
To confirm a lung problem such as pneumonia from a patient coughing mucus, the nurse should utilize a chest x-ray film, perform a physical examination with auscultation, and review medical records summarizing x-ray findings.
Step-by-step explanation:
To confirm a lung problem when a patient has been coughing mucus, the following nursing assessments would be best:
Chest x-ray film: This can reveal shadows or abnormalities in the lungs, which may indicate pneumonia or other lung diseases.Physical examination with auscultation of the lungs: Listening for abnormal sounds, like crackling, can suggest conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis, or other respiratory issues.Medical record summary of x-ray film findings: Reviewing past x-ray results can provide a historical context for the current issues and help determine if there is a progressing lung problem.
Family report might provide useful subjective information, but it is not a direct assessment tool for confirming lung pathology. Objective assessments like chest x-rays and auscultation provide more definitive information regarding lung health.
In clinical cases, the presence of symptoms such as hypoxemia, abnormal breath sounds, sputum production, and radiographic evidence of lung consolidation are all suggestive of respiratory system diseases like pneumonia, which would be among the diseases best confirmed through the assessments listed above.