Final answer:
Bronchial sounds are typically heard over areas of consolidation when auscultating the chest of a patient with pneumonia, indicating the presence of denser lung tissue.
Step-by-step explanation:
When auscultating the chest of a patient with pneumonia, the nurse should expect to hear bronchial sounds over areas of consolidation. These sounds are more hollow, tubular, and louder than normal breath sounds, and they signify that air is being transmitted through a dense area of lung, such as occurs with pneumonia where there is a consolidation of lung tissue. The auscultation might also detect other abnormalities such as crepitation or crackling sounds, which are indicative of the fluid and mucus typically found in the alveoli and airways of a patient with pneumonia.