When entering a male client's room, the nurse observes that he is splinting his chest with a pillow. Which follow-up assessment should the nurse complete?

A. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) can lead to decreased lung function and abnormalities in lung expansion. However, COPD typically results in a more generalized decrease in lung expansion and breath sounds, rather than pronounced unilateral inequality. While COPD can cause irregularities in lung expansion, it is less likely to cause significant unilateral differences in lung expansion.
B. Unequal lung expansion is a key sign of a collapsed lung, or pneumothorax. When a lung collapses, the affected side will show reduced or absent expansion compared to the unaffected side. This is because the collapsed lung cannot expand properly during inhalation, leading to noticeable differences in breath sounds and lung movement on physical examination.
C. If the client's lungs were functioning normally, one would expect to observe symmetrical lung expansion. Unequal lung expansion is not a normal finding and usually indicates some form of pathology or abnormality in the lung or thoracic cavity. Normal lung function should result in even expansion of both lungs.
D. Chronic lung infections, such as tuberculosis or severe pneumonia, might cause abnormalities in lung sounds or localized lung issues, but they are less likely to cause pronounced unilateral differences in lung expansion. While they can affect lung function, they typically do not cause the same degree of unilateral expansion issues as a pneumothorax would.

A. Lymph nodes that feel ropey and rubbery might indicate chronic inflammation or fibrosis. This texture is not typically considered normal. In elderly clients, lymph nodes may become less palpable due to age- related changes, but they should not feel ropey or rubbery. If lymph nodes feel this way, it may warrant further investigation to rule out pathological conditions.
B. In elderly clients, axillary lymph nodes may feel softer and less defined due to fatty tissue changes associated with aging. However, "soft and fatty" should be interpreted cautiously. While some degree of change is normal, nodes should not be excessively soft, nor should they have an abnormal appearance. The key is that they should not be hard, fixed, or tender, which would be indicative of pathology.
C. Enlarged and warm inguinal lymph nodes suggest infection or inflammation rather than a normal finding. In the elderly, while lymph nodes can sometimes be palpable, they should not be enlarged or warm, as this could indicate an underlying condition or infection that requires further evaluation.
D. It is normal for lymph nodes to be non-palpable in many individuals, including older adults. Age- related changes can cause lymph nodes to be less prominent or difficult to palpate. If lymph nodes are non-palpable, it usually means they are not enlarged or abnormal, which is a normal finding, especially if the client is not experiencing any symptoms of infection or other related issues.