A nurse is assessing a client who reports acute pain. The nurse should anticipate which of the following findings?

Choice A rationale:

Placing the cuff bladder over the client's brachial artery is a correct action when obtaining a blood pressure reading. This choice demonstrates proper cuff placement, which is essential for an accurate measurement.

Choice B rationale:

Placing the client's arm above the level of the client's heart is an incorrect action when obtaining a blood pressure reading. The client's arm should be supported at heart level to ensure accurate measurement. This choice indicates a need for further instruction as it could lead to an artificially low blood pressure reading.

Choice C rationale:

Wrapping the blood pressure cuff snugly around the client's arm is a correct action when obtaining a blood pressure reading. This choice demonstrates proper cuff application, which is necessary for accurate results.

Choice D rationale:

Checking the instrument gauge to ensure the reading starts at zero is a correct action when obtaining a blood pressure reading. This choice reflects a proper step to verify that the equipment is calibrated correctly.

Choice A rationale:

Pneumonia is not likely to be the correct answer. Pneumonia is often characterized by productive cough, fever, chest pain, and increased tactile fremitus due to consolidation of lung tissue. The presence of barrel chest, decreased tactile fremitus, and hyperresonant percussion sounds is not consistent with pneumonia.

Choice B rationale:

Atelectasis is not the most likely option. Atelectasis refers to collapsed or partially collapsed lung tissue, which can lead to decreased breath sounds, dullness to percussion, and decreased tactile fremitus. The symptoms mentioned in the scenario, such as prolonged expiration, wheezes, and barrel chest, are not indicative of atelectasis.

Choice C rationale:

Pleural effusion is not the most suitable choice. Pleural effusion usually presents with decreased breath sounds, dullness to percussion, and decreased tactile fremitus over the affected area due to fluid accumulation in the pleural space. The hyperresonant percussion sounds and the presence of wheezes and rhonchi do not align with pleural effusion.

Choice D rationale:

Emphysema is the most likely disorder based on the given symptoms. Barrel chest (increased anterior-posterior chest diameter), limited lung expansion, decreased tactile fremitus, hyperresonant percussion sounds, prolonged expiration, wheezes, and rhonchi are characteristic findings of emphysema. This condition involves damage to the alveoli and their supporting structures, leading to air trapping, reduced lung elasticity, and obstructed airflow. The patient's use of accessory muscles to breathe further suggests a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) like emphysema.