Chapter 16: Thorax and Lung Assessment Practice Questions and Actual Answers.

1. Which of these statements is true regarding the vertebra prominens? The vertebra prominens is: - Answer The spinous process of C7 When performing a respiratory assessment on a patient, the nurse notices a costal angle of approximately 90 degrees. This characteristic is: - Answer A normal finding in a healthy adult. When assessing a patient’s lungs, the nurse recalls that the left lung: - Answer Consists of two lobes. Which statement about the apices of the lungs is true? The apices of the lungs: - Answer Extend 3 to 4 cm above the inner third of the clavicles. During an examination of the anterior thorax, the nurse is aware that the trachea bifurcates anteriorly at the: - Answer Sternal angle. During an assessment, the nurse knows that expected assessment findings in the normal adult lung include the presence of: - Answer Muffled voice sounds and symmetric tactile fremitus. The primary muscles of respiration include the: - Answer diaphragm and intercostals A 65-year-old patient with a history of heart failure comes to the clinic with complaints of being awakened from sleep with shortness of breath. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate? - Answer Assessing for other signs and symptoms of paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea When assessing tactile fremitus, the nurse recalls that it is normal to feel tactile fremitus most intensely over which location? - Answer Between the scapulae The nurse is reviewing the technique of palpating for tactile fremitus with a new graduate. Which statement by the graduate nurse reflects a correct understanding of tactile fremitus?