On auscultation of the patient's lung fields, crackles that do not clear with coughing are heard bilaterally at the bases. Which conclusion by the nurse is the most appropriate based on these assessment findings?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Crackles that do not clear with coughing and are heard bilaterally at the bases can be indicative of all the mentioned conditions: collapsed alveoli popping open (A), fluid in the lungs (B), and rales auscultated at the bases (C), as "rales" is another term for crackles.

On Auscultation of the Patient's Lung Fields, Crackles That Do