{"title":"Chest X-ray interpretation: Not just black and white.","authors":"William Pezzotti","doi":"10.1097/NSG.0000000000000271","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Chest X-rays (CXRs) are a fundamental diagnostic tool in acute and critical care, providing a rapid and noninvasive method for evaluating thoracic conditions. Although radiologists interpret the images, nurses are often the first to review the reports and relay findings to the clinical team. This article provides a practical guide to understanding and interpreting CXRs and outlines a systematic approach to aid in consistent evaluation. The visualization of both normal anatomy and key abnormalities are discussed, including pleural effusions, pulmonary edema, pneumonia, atelectasis, pneumothorax, acute respiratory distress syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung nodules. By developing basic competency in CXR interpretation, nurses can improve diagnostic accuracy, promote timely interventions, and enhance patient outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":35641,"journal":{"name":"Nursing","volume":"55 10","pages":"14-21"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Nursing","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1097/NSG.0000000000000271","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/9/22 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"Nursing","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Abstract: Chest X-rays (CXRs) are a fundamental diagnostic tool in acute and critical care, providing a rapid and noninvasive method for evaluating thoracic conditions. Although radiologists interpret the images, nurses are often the first to review the reports and relay findings to the clinical team. This article provides a practical guide to understanding and interpreting CXRs and outlines a systematic approach to aid in consistent evaluation. The visualization of both normal anatomy and key abnormalities are discussed, including pleural effusions, pulmonary edema, pneumonia, atelectasis, pneumothorax, acute respiratory distress syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung nodules. By developing basic competency in CXR interpretation, nurses can improve diagnostic accuracy, promote timely interventions, and enhance patient outcomes.
期刊介绍：
Nursing2020 (ISSN 0360-4039; online ISSN 1538-8689) published its first issue in November 1971, under founders Gene W. Jackson and Daniel Cheney. In the intervening years, its circulation has grown to over 150,000, making it one of the largest nursing journals in the world. Published monthly, Nursing2020 is widely regarded as offering current, practical contents to its readers, and has won many editorial awards testifying to the quality of its copy and graphics. The editorial and clinical staff, a 19-member Editorial Board of distinguished clinicians and practitioners, and over 100 invited reviewers help ensure the quality of this publication.
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