Can't hear normal breath sounds

[Nursebarebari]

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, BSN, RN]

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?

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

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

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

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]

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