Question

The nurse provides care for a patient who experienced chest trauma. When the nurse assesses the right lung, which finding suggests a right-sided pneumothorax?

A. Inspiratory crackles
B. Pronounced crackles
C. Dullness on percussion
D. Absence of breath sounds

Answer 1

A right-sided pneumothorax is suggested by the absence of breath sounds when a nurse assesses the right lung after chest trauma. A pneumothorax causes the lung to collapse due to air entering the pleural space.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse assessing a patient who experienced chest trauma would suggest a right-sided pneumothorax if there is an absence of breath sounds when listening to the right lung. A pneumothorax occurs when air enters the pleural space, the area between the chest wall and the lung, causing the lung to collapse and resulting in the absence of normal breath sounds over the affected area. Other findings such as inspiratory crackles or pronounced crackles are more commonly associated with conditions like pneumonia, where fluid or mucus fill the lung tissue, and dullness on percussion is associated with consolidation or pleural effusion rather than pneumothorax.