[hajiagambo]

Hi fellow nurses,
I feel embarassed to ask this question, but how can I know if I don't ask. Well, I have been a RN for three years, but I have never been able to hear normal breath sounds with a stethoscope. I always listen to each of my patients lung sound on daily assessments, but never hear any thing except for loud wheezing and rales from trach or asthma pts.
Is there a special technique Please help.

[csadam]

Either you need a better stethoscope, or all your non wheezing pts are diminished... IN ALL LUNG FIELDS.
Seriously try listening to your lungs with your stethoscope, if you don't hear anything get a new one!
Good luck!

[CritterLover]

Normal breath sounds are pretty subtle.

Don't mean to sound like a smarty, but have you tried really paying attention?

I can remember having this problem when I was in school, and I just wasn't listening closely.

Agree that it could be your stethascope, or maybe you need your hearing checked?

[EricEnfermero]

If you get in the intercostal spaces (as opposed to on top of ribs), you may have more luck.

[sirI]

Hello, hajiagambo,

You might try these links, too. (found in this sticky Helpful Information for the Unit in the CCU forum):

http://sprojects.mmi.mcgill.ca/mvs/ The Virtual Sethoscope

http://www.wilkes.med.ucla.edu/intro.html Heart and Breath Sounds


http://www.rale.ca/ Breath Sounds

[RNLULULABAMBA]

Originally Posted by siri

Hello, hajiagambo,

You might try these links, too. (found in this sticky Helpful Information for the Unit in the CCU forum):

http://sprojects.mmi.mcgill.ca/mvs/ The Virtual Sethoscope

http://www.wilkes.med.ucla.edu/intro.html Heart and Breath Sounds


http://www.rale.ca/ Breath Sounds

Hi
good sites for hajiagambo
I tried using them too

[pointeblanc23]

amazing sites... i also tried using them... helps me alot distinguishing all those different sounds although one could never master them all at once...Thanks