Author Question: The nurse caring for an elderly patient realizes that the patient is at risk for problems related to ... (Read 69 times)

anshika · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

The nurse caring for an elderly patient realizes that the patient is at risk for problems related to the volume of air remaining in the lungs because of what physiological change?

1. Elasticity of lungs decreases with age.
2. Older adults have a more rapid respiratory rate.
3. There is a tightening of the diaphragm with age.
4. Intercostal muscles become weaker with age.

Question 2

The nurse is auscultating a patient's lungs. Which breath sounds should the nurse identify as being abnormal?

Select all that apply.
1. crackles
2. vesicular
3. bronchovesicular
4. wheezes
5. bronchial

irishcancer18 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 4
As a person ages, the intercostal muscles become weak. This reduces the movement of the chest wall. Elasticity of the diaphragm, not necessarily of the lungs, is lost, and the diaphragm flattens, or tightens. The respiratory rate of well older adults slows, not increases, with age.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 1, 4
The three different types of normal breath sounds are vesicular, bronchovesicular, and bronchial. Normally, there are no crackles or wheezes.