Question about lung assesments

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New 7 month old nurse here. Kind of embarrassed to ask this question.

Is there a difference between lungs sounding "decreased" or "diminished"? I always assumed they meant the same thing. They do, right?

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Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.
New 7 month old nurse here. Kind of embarrassed to ask this question.

Is there a difference between lungs sounding "decreased" or "diminished"? I always assumed they meant the same thing. They do, right?

I had to think about this one. I do use the terms differently although I don't know if there really is a difference. I use the term decreased when talking about the bases of the lungs or a specific area. For example, decreased right lower lobe lung sound. However, I will use diminished when I am charting about the lungs in general. Meaning that the lung sounds are diminished throughout the lung fields. Almost like there is a decrease in the intensity of the sound...in a scattered throughout sort of way. If that makes sense. Again, I don't know if I am right or not but I do use the terms differently.

I am curious as to what others have to say.

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Specializes in DOU.

I would interpret them the same way.

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Specializes in ICU, CCU,Wound Care,LTC, Hospice, MDS.

To me, they mean the same thing.

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