Respiratory Cloud Clinical Skills Library

Clinical knowledge review

Contraindications

Use these educational prompts with current orders, protocols, patient assessment, facility policy, and supervising-clinician direction.

Skill

Physical Assessment of the Chest

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Relative contraindications Factors requiring individualized risk-benefit assessment, added precautions, or a modified approach. View list

Relative contraindications

Use individualized risk-benefit assessment, added precautions, or a modified approach as authorized for the patient and setting.

  • An unstable patient may require immediate treatment and a focused examination rather than a complete systematic examination.
  • Open wounds, recent surgery, chest trauma, severe pain, or devices that require modification of palpation or percussion technique.

Sources

Supporting sources include peer-reviewed research, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, professional standards, and foundational respiratory care references, as applicable to the skill.

  1. Bone H, Diamond-Fox S. Assessment and examination of the respiratory system. Br J Nurs. 2024;33(13):606-611. doi:10.12968/bjon.2021.0063. PMID:38954452.
  2. Morgan S. Respiratory assessment: undertaking a physical examination of the chest in adults. Nurs Stand. 2022;37(3):75-82. doi:10.7748/ns.2021.e11602. PMID:34931506.