2024 PN NCLEX Questions Nursing Practice Question
A nurse is preparing to auscultate a client's breath sounds. To assess vesicular breath sounds, the nurse places the stethoscope over which area?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: To assess vesicular breath sounds, the stethoscope should be placed over the peripheral lung fields, where these soft, low-pitched sounds are normally heard.
Option A, the major bronchi, is incorrect as bronchial sounds are typically heard here, which are louder and higher-pitched. Option B, the xiphoid process, is not appropriate for auscultating breath sounds; this area is more related to heart sounds. Option C, the trachea and larynx, is also incorrect, as these areas produce tracheal sounds, which are distinct from vesicular sounds and are much harsher.