Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 91%
Simulated
A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who was injured in a motor-vehicle crash. The client reports dyspnea and severe pain. The nurse notes that the client's chest moves inward during inspiration and bulges out during expiration. The nurse should identify this finding as which of the following?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
Paradoxical chest movement (inward on inspiration, outward on expiration) is characteristic of flail chest.