Final answer:
During an asthma attack, a nurse performing chest percussion would expect to find resonant to hyper-resonant sounds due to air trapping and lung hyperinflation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a patient experiencing asthma, the nurse can expect to find resonant to hyper-resonant sounds on percussion of the chest. During an asthma attack, the airways of the lungs become narrowed and the production of mucus increases, which can trap air within the alveoli (air sacs) and lead to hyperinflation of the lungs. Resonant sounds are normal, but when these sounds become hyper-resonant, it suggests the presence of excess air, as is typical in conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).