A 3-year-old child is brought to the emergency department with sudden onset of hoarseness,wheezing,and cough.The child has a history of asthma,but the parent is worried about an aspirated toy part.Which action by the nurse would quickly differentiate between the two?
A) Administer an inhaled bronchodilator.
B) Auscultate lungs for unilateral wheezing.
C) Obtain a stat portable chest x-ray.
D) Quickly obtain an oxygen saturation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In foreign body aspiration (FBA),wheezing would more likely be heard unilaterally.In an asthma exacerbation,wheezing would be bilateral.The other measures are appropriate care measures in either case,but the quickest way to assess for FBA is to auscultate the lungs.

A 3-Year-Old Child Is Brought to the Emergency Department with Sudden