NUR 112 Assessing The Thorax and the Lungs Notes

Chapter 19 Assessing Thorax and Lungs




 Lung Cancer*
o Leading cause of death in the US and Europe
o Risk Factors:
 Cigarette smoking/second-hand smoke
 Genetic predisposition
 Exposure to toxins
 History of previous lung cancer
 Gender
 Asbestos, radon, and environmental exposure
 Workplace pollutants
 History of Hodgkin disease
 Poor diet
 Beta-carotene supplements
o Risk Reduction:
 Join smoking cessation program
 Stop smoking
 Avoid exposure to asbestos or radon
 Limit exposure to toxins such as diesel exhaust, arsenic, silica,
chromium, or other environmental irritants.
 Subjective data collection

, o History of present health concern – COLDSPA
o Past health history
o Family history
o Lifestyle/ health practices
 Objective data collection
o Preparation:
 Explain Procedure to client
 Have client remove clothes from the waist up
 Ask client to sit in up right position
o Equipment:
 Gloves
 Gown and Drape
 Stethoscope
 Light Source
 Mask
 Skin Marker
 Metric Ruler
o INSPECTION*
 Position of scapula and the shape and configuration of the chest
wall
 Scoliosis
 Spinal Configurations – respiratory implications
 Inspection of Accessory Muscles:
 Trapezius, or shoulder muscles; facilitate inspiration in
acute and chronic airway obstruction or atelectasis
 Inspection of Position*:
 Tripod position seen in COPD
o Leans forward
o Arms to support weight
o Lifts chest to increase breathing capacity