Question

During a physical examination, the nurse wants to assess a body area by eliciting a tone or sound wave. The technique that the nurse will use for this assessment would be __________.

1) Percussion
2) Palpation
3) Inspection
4) Auscultation

Answer 1

The nurse will use the technique of percussion to assess a body area by eliciting a tone or sound wave, which involves tapping on the body's surface to determine the underlying structure.

Step-by-step explanation:

During a physical examination, when a nurse wants to assess a body area by eliciting a tone or sound wave, the technique that will be used is percussion. Percussion involves tapping on a surface to determine the underlying structure. It is different from auscultation, which is listening to the sounds of the body, typically using a stethoscope, and is often used to assess heart or lung function. Palpation is the method of feeling with the hands to detect abnormalities in the body. Lastly, inspection is the visual examination of the body for signs of disease or abnormality.