pleural and pleural fricton rub

Nurses General Nursing

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I had a question on a quiz that asked that we listen and identify a lung sound. The choices were crackles, wheezes, or pleral friction rub. I knew the answer was pleural friction rub but when I wrote it down I only wrote pleural. My instructor checked it wrong and when I questioned her about it she said I could have meant pleural anything. I can't get past it so If anyone says I should not have gotten credit and that she was right then I will put it to rest and accept it. What do you think??

Forgive me, but there was only one choice involving the phrase pleural on the question -- so I tend to agree with you.

There is a big difference between a "pleural sound" and a "pleural friction rub" -----so your teacher was correct. Crackles, rhonchi, wheezes are examples of pleural sounds..............a pleural friction rub is a sound all of its own.

Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.

In addition, I think you can look at this as a lesson in being thorough and clear which is very important, of course, in nursing.

Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.
In addition, I think you can look at this as a lesson in being thorough and clear which is very important, of course, in nursing.

Couldn't agree more. :)

I think we are reading the question as answer a, b, or c. If pleural matches letter "c" it is the correct answer. Would it be incorrect, if she had circled it or underlined it, or was it bad luck that she had a fill in the blank write it out type test? I remember most of my tests being those scan tron things where you coloured in circles or circled the appropriate answer on the question sheet...

If you are charting as a nurse, and don't complete the thought, then what happens if the chart goes to court...........do you say that you forgot to complete it? In the real world, you have to take responsibility for your actions, and if it means filling in the complete answer, then this is what has to be done. There is a big difference between pleural sounds and a pleural friction rub. That is our point.

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