The health care provider orders percussion on a patient to help clear airway secretions.Which action by the nurse is appropriate?

A) Performing percussion over the ribs,while avoiding the clavicles and sternum
B) Administering pain medication before performing the percussion because the vibrations will be painful
C) Performing percussion during exhalation only with the flat part of the palm
D) Creating a rocking motion by slightly leaning on the patient's chest

Percussion

A diagnostic technique used in medicine that involves tapping on the surface of the body to listen to the resulting sound for clues about the underlying structure.

Vibrations

Oscillations or repetitive motions around an equilibrium point, common in mechanical systems and structures, and which can be analyzed for maintenance, comfort, or design purposes.

Clavicles

A pair of long bones connecting the upper arms to the body, positioned horizontally across the top of the chest, also known as collarbones.