A 2-year-old in acute respiratory distress was playing with small game pieces. Which assessment finding is expected?

In the case of a 2-year-old experiencing acute respiratory distress after playing with small game pieces, the expected assessment finding of inspiratory stridor and coughing is indicative of an upper airway obstruction. This situation frequently arises when small objects are inhaled, potentially causing partial blockage in the airway leading to difficulty in breathing.

Inspiratory stridor is a high-pitched sound resulting from turbulent airflow through a partially obstructed airway. It is commonly associated with conditions that affect the upper airway, such as croup or foreign body aspiration. The presence of coughing further supports the notion that the child is exhibiting signs of distress as the body attempts to clear the obstruction.

This aligns with the emergency nursing perspective of prioritizing airway integrity and recognizing signs of obstruction. Other potential findings related to foreign body aspiration, such as wheezing or crackles, would typically suggest lower airway involvement or conditions like asthma, which are not the expected assessment findings in this specific scenario with a possible upper airway obstruction following aspiration of small objects. Thus, inspiratory stridor and coughing are the most fitting indicators that align with the situation described.