Question

During assessment of the patient who has a nephrectomy, what should the nurse expect to find?

a. Shallow, slow respirations
b. Clear breath sounds in all lung fields
c. Decreased breath sounds in the lower left lobe
d. Decreased breath sounds in the right and left lower lobes

Answer 1

During assessment of a patient who has a nephrectomy, the nurse should expect to find decreased breath sounds in the right and left lower lobes.

Step-by-step explanation:

During assessment of a patient who has a nephrectomy, the nurse should expect to find decreased breath sounds in the right and left lower lobes.

When listening to the patient's lungs with a stethoscope, the nurse may hear decreased breath sounds, which could indicate that lung function is compromised in the lower lobes.

this is because a nephrectomy involves the removal of one kidney, which can lead to changes in lung function due to the surgical procedure and potential complications.