Adult Health Respiratory Saunders

A client with a history of silicosis is admitted to the hospital with respiratory distress and impending respiratory failure. Which item(s) would the nurse place at the client's bedside?

Intubation tray The client with impending respiratory failure may need intubation and mechanical ventilation. The nurse ensures that an intubation tray is readily available. The other items are not needed at the client's bedside.

Which are possible causes of upper airway obstruction? Select all that apply.

Laryngeal edema Head and neck cancer Foreign body aspiration Lymph node enlargement Obstruction of the upper airway can be due to obstruction by edema, a tumor, lymph node enlargement, or foreign body aspiration. Thick, not thin, secretions could obstruct the upper airway.

The nurse is taking the history of a client with occupational lung disease (silicosis). The nurse would ask the client whether the client wears which item during periods of exposure to silica particles?

Mask Silicosis results from chronic, excessive inhalation of particles of free crystalline silica dust. The client needs to wear a mask to limit inhalation of this substance, which can cause restrictive lung disease after years of exposure. Options 2, 3, and 4 are not necessary.

The nurse is providing instructions to a client about diaphragmatic breathing. The nurse tells the client that this technique is helpful because in normal respiration, as the diaphragm contracts, it takes which action?

Moves downward and out As the diaphragm contracts, it moves downward and out, becoming flatter and expanding the thoracic cage, to promote lung expansion. This process occurs during the inspiratory phase of the respiratory cycle. The incorrect options occur with exhalation and relaxation of the diaphragm.

A client has experienced pulmonary embolism. The nurse would assess for which symptom, which is most commonly reported?

Chest pain that occurs suddenly The most common initial symptom in pulmonary embolism is chest pain that is sudden in onset. The next most commonly reported symptom is dyspnea, which is accompanied by an increased respiratory rate. Other typical symptoms of pulmonary embolism include apprehension and restlessness, tachycardia, cough, and cyanosis.

The community health nurse is conducting a presentation on preventing the spread of COVID-19. The nurse would specify in the presentation that which duration of time is recommended for an individual to self-isolate after being exposed to COVID-19?

14 days Current guidelines state that after being exposed to COVID-19, 14 days is the recommended amount of time to stay home after exposure to aid in preventing the spread of the disease. Therefore, option 3 is correct. Options 1, 2, and 4 are inappropriate lengths of time in this situation.

The nurse is teaching a client about changes in body image related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Which statement by the client would indicate that teaching was successful?

"My nails may become clubbed." A client with COPD will have clubbing of the nails, described as an angle between the nail plate and the proximal nail fold exceeding 180 degrees. Psoriasis is represented by multiple small pits in the nail bed. Flattening of the nail plate is caused by several conditions, such as iron-deficiency anemia and poorly controlled diabetes for greater than 15 years. Horizontal depression across the nail beds is caused by medical problems, such as acute, severe illness and isolated periods of severe malnutrition.

The nurse working on a medical-surgical unit is reviewing the day's client assignment. Which client(s) in the day's assignment would the nurse determine is at risk for the development of pneumonia? Select all that apply.

A client who had a total open hysterectomy 2 days ago A client with a fractured hip scheduled for a hip arthroplasty the following day A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with a tracheostomy A client who is nothing-by-mouth (NPO) receiving tube feeding via a nasogastric (NG) tube There are several risk factors associated with the development of pneumonia. These include abdominal or chest surgery, a client on strict bed rest or an immobile client, artificial airways that bypass the protective mechanisms of the upper airway, chronic diseases (including chronic lung disease, liver disease, diabetes, and heart conditions) and NG or nasointestinal tubes, which increase the risk of aspiration. The client in option 2 underwent an invasive surgery with large abdominal incisions, which increases this client's risk for an ineffective breathing pattern related to pain with deep breathing and an increased risk for pneumonia due to alveolar collapse. The client in option 3 requires strict bed rest to prevent further injury to the hip and is also at an increased risk for an ineffective breathing pattern related to immobility and pain. The client in option 4 is at an increased risk for pneumonia due to the client's medical history of COPD and the presence of a tracheostomy, which increases the risk of infection. The client in option 5 has an NG tube, which increases the client's risk of aspiration pneumonia. The client in option 1 is not at an increased risk for pneumonia. Therefore, options 2, 3, 4, and 5 are correct.

A client has been treated for pleural effusion with a thoracentesis. The nurse determines that this procedure has been effective if the nurse notes which assessment finding?

Absence of dyspnea The client who has undergone thoracentesis would experience relief of the signs and symptoms experienced before the procedure. Typical signs and symptoms of pleural effusion include dry, nonproductive cough; dyspnea (usually on exertion); decreased or absent tactile fremitus; and dull or flat percussion notes on respiratory assessment.

The nurse is preparing a list of home care instructions for a client who has been hospitalized and treated for tuberculosis. Which instructions would the nurse include on the list?Select all that apply.

Activities should be resumed gradually. A sputum culture is needed every 2 to 4 weeks once medication therapy is initiated. Respiratory isolation is not necessary, because family members already have been exposed. Cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and put used tissues in plastic bags. The nurse would provide the client and family with information about tuberculosis and allay concerns about the contagious aspect of the infection. The client needs to follow the medication regimen exactly as prescribed and always have a supply of the medication on hand. Side and adverse effects of the medication and ways of minimizing them to ensure compliance need to be explained. After 2 to 3 weeks of medication therapy, it is unlikely that the client will infect anyone. Activities need to be resumed gradually, and a well-balanced diet that is rich in iron, protein, and vitamin C to promote healing and prevent recurrence of infection needs to be consumed. Respiratory isolation is not necessary, because family members already have been exposed. Instruct the client about thorough handwashing, to cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and to put used tissues into plastic bags. A sputum culture is needed every 2 to 4 weeks once medication therapy is initiated. When the results of three sputum cultures are negative, the client is no longer considered infectious and can usually return to former employment.

A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who is beginning oxygen therapy asks the nurse how to manage the amount of oxygen given. How would the nurse instruct the client?

Adjust the oxygen depending on SpO2. The client with COPD is often dependent on oxygen. The oxygen would be adjusted depending on the SpO2, which needs to be 88% to 92%. All other options are incorrect.

An ambulatory care nurse is assessing a client with chronic sinusitis. The nurse would expect to note which assessment findings in this client? Select all that apply.

Anosmia Chronic cough Purulent nasal discharge Chronic sinusitis is characterized by persistent purulent nasal discharge, a chronic cough due to nasal discharge, anosmia (loss of smell), nasal stuffiness, and headache that is worse on arising after sleep. Intolerance to hot weather and intolerance to strong aromas are not characteristics.

The nurse in the emergency department is preparing for the arrival of a client with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning. Which primary health care provider (PHCP) order would the nurse perform first upon the client's arrival?

Apply 100% oxygen via nonrebreather mask. Carbon monoxide poisoning results in the displacement of oxygen from hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in tissue hypoxia. Although options 1, 2 and 4 are appropriate interventions in the care of a client with carbon monoxide poisoning, the first action the nurse would take to assist the client's airway and breathing would be to apply high-flow oxygen via a nonrebreather mask. Therefore, option 3 is correct.

The nurse is caring for a client with a tracheostomy receiving supplemental oxygen via a tracheostomy mask and is preparing to perform tracheostomy care. While preparing the supplies, the nurse notes the tracheostomy tube is pulsing, there is bleeding from the stoma, and the client is increasingly restless. The nurse calls for a rapid response team (RRT) and removes the tracheostomy tube. Which action would the nurse take next?

Assist the primary health care provider (PHCP) with endotracheal intubation Bleeding from a tracheostomy can indicate a serious medical emergency known as trachea-innominate artery fistula. The tracheostomy tube will pulse simultaneously with the heartbeat, and heavy bleeding will be noted from the stoma. The tracheostomy tube needs to be removed immediately and an alternative airway will need to be secured. After calling for help, the nurse would first prepare for endotracheal intubation. Therefore, option 4 is correct. Options 1, 2, and 3 are appropriate actions by the nurse, but a patent airway is the priority. Furthermore, those nursing interventions can be carried out simultaneously with assistance from the RRT.

A client is returned to the nursing unit after thoracic surgery with chest tubes in place. During the first few hours postoperatively, what type of drainage would the nurse expect?

Bloody In the first few hours after surgery, the drainage from the chest tube is bloody. After several hours, it becomes serosanguineous. The client would not experience frequent clotting. Proper chest tube function would allow for drainage of blood before it has the chance to clot in the chest or the tubing.

The nurse is providing home education for a client diagnosed with acute bronchitis. The nurse would tell the client to return to the clinic if which symptoms were present? Select all that apply.

Bloody sputum Difficulty breathing Symptoms lasting more than 4 weeks Acute bronchitis is a condition of acute inflammation of the bronchi due to a viral or bacterial infection. The condition is self-limiting, and treatment is supportive to aid in relieving symptoms and client discomfort. The client with acute bronchitis would be educated to return to the clinic if certain symptoms develop, such as difficulty breathing, bloody sputum, temperature of 100.4° F (38° C) or higher, or if symptoms last longer than 4 weeks. Therefore, options 1, 2, and 4 are correct. The temperature in option 3 is not high enough to be concerning. Option 5 describes a normal heart rate.

The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB). Which assessments, if made by the nurse, are consistent with the usual clinical presentation of TB? Select all that apply.

Cough Dyspnea Chills and night sweats The client with TB usually experiences cough (productive or nonproductive), fatigue, anorexia, weight loss, dyspnea, hemoptysis, chest discomfort or pain, chills and sweats (which may occur at night), and a low-grade fever.

The nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client brought in from a house fire. The client is exhibiting dyspnea with clear breath sounds bilaterally and is complaining of a severe headache. The client is exhibiting signs of confusion and is oriented to self. The client's vital signs are as follows: temperature 98.2℉ (36.7℃), oxygen saturation 91%, respiratory rate 26 breaths per minute, heart rate 112 beats per minute, and blood pressure 100/62. Which of the following conditions would the nurse suspect?

Carbon monoxide poisoning Carbon monoxide is present in many noxious substances, including cigarette smoke and fire smoke. Carbon monoxide has a higher affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen and displaces oxygen from hemoglobin, thereby inhibiting the body's ability to oxygenate tissues. Clinical manifestations include severe headache, dyspnea, tachypnea, confusion, tachycardia, cyanosis, and respiratory depression. Carbon monoxide poisoning results from inhaling combustion fumes, such as from a fire, and carbon monoxide displaces oxygen on the red blood cells, inhibiting the body's ability to carry and deliver oxygen to tissues. Since the client has been in a house fire, which is a risk factor for this condition, and is exhibiting signs and symptoms consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning, option 4 is correct.

Which are risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)? Select all that apply.

Cigarette smoking Genetic risk factor Environmental factors Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency Risk factors for COPD include cigarette smoking, environmental factors, genetics, and AAT deficiency. Purified air and consumption of fruits and vegetables promote health.

The nurse reads that a client's tuberculin skin test is positive and notes that previous tests were negative. The client becomes upset and asks the nurse what this means. The nurse would base the response on which interpretation?

Exposure to tuberculosis A client who tests positive on a tuberculin skin test either has been exposed to tuberculosis (TB) or has inactive (dormant) TB. The client must then undergo chest radiography and sputum culture to confirm the diagnosis. Options 1, 2, and 4 are incorrect interpretations of the data presented in the question.

The nurse is reviewing the pathophysiology of pleural effusion. The nurse knows that pleural fluid balance is managed by several mechanisms and correctly identifies which of the following as a cause for the development of pleural effusion? Select all that apply.

Decreased oncotic pressure Lymphatic fluid outflow obstruction Increased pulmonary capillary pressure Increased pleural membrane permeability The lungs are covered by a two-layered pleural membrane that contains a small amount of pleural fluid between the parietal and visceral pleura to lubricate lung movement. The fluid volume in the pleural space is managed by a balance between hydrostatic pressure, oncotic pressure, capillary permeability and lymphatic fluid outflow. Pleural effusion occurs when one of the previously mentioned mechanisms is disturbed and excessive fluid accumulates in the pleural space. Decreased oncotic pressure, lymphatic fluid outflow obstruction, increased capillary pressure (not decreased capillary pressure), and increased pleural membrane permeability can lead to the development of pleural effusion. Therefore, options 1, 2, 3, and 5 are correct.

The emergency department nurse is assessing a client who has sustained a blunt injury to the chest wall. Which finding indicates the presence of a pneumothorax in this client?

Diminished breath sounds This client has sustained a blunt or closed-chest injury. Basic symptoms of a closed pneumothorax are shortness of breath and chest pain. A larger pneumothorax may cause tachypnea, cyanosis, diminished breath sounds, and subcutaneous emphysema. Hyperresonance also may occur on the affected side. A sucking sound at the site of injury would be noted with an open chest injury.

A client with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has histoplasmosis. The nurse would assess the client for which expected finding?

Dyspnea Histoplasmosis is an opportunistic fungal infection that can occur in the client with AIDS. The infection begins as a respiratory infection and can progress to disseminated infection. Typical signs and symptoms include fever, dyspnea, cough, and weight loss. Enlargement of the client's lymph nodes, liver, and spleen may occur as well.

The nurse is doing volunteer work in a homeless shelter. The nurse would monitor the individuals for which initial signs and symptoms of tuberculosis? Select all that apply.

Fatigue Lethargy Morning cough Low-grade fever The symptoms of tuberculosis include a slight morning cough, fatigue, lethargy, and low-grade fever. The other symptoms listed are advanced (not initial) signs and symptoms.

A client with silicosis is being monitored yearly at the health care clinic. On assessment, the nurse would ask the client about which manifestations of the disorder? Select all that apply.

Fatigue Malaise Anorexia Silicosis is a chronic lung fibrosis that results from the long-term inhalation of silica dust. It is characterized by nodule formation between alveoli, leading to fibrosis. Malaise, extreme fatigue, anorexia, weight loss, and dyspnea on exertion (not at rest) would occur in a client with silicosis. Additional manifestations include reduced lung volume and upper lobe fibrosis.

The nurse is caring for a client with a respiratory disorder who is attempting to stop smoking. The primary health care provider has recommended nicotine gum. When reviewing this treatment with the client, the nurse would provide which instruction?

Hold the gum between the cheek and teeth periodically. Nicotine gum needs to be chewed for 30-minute intervals with periods of holding the gum between the cheek and teeth; food and drink would be avoided 15 minutes before and during use.

A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is experiencing exacerbation of the disease. The nurse would determine that which finding documented in the client's record is an expected finding with this client?

Hyperinflation of lungs documented by chest x-ray The clinical manifestations of COPD are several, including hypoxemia, hypercapnia, dyspnea on exertion and at rest, oxygen desaturation with exercise, use of accessory respiratory muscles, and prolonged exhalation. Chest x-ray results indicate a hyperinflated chest and may indicate a flattened diaphragm if the disease is advanced.

The nurse is monitoring the respiratory status of a client with laryngeal cancer after creation of a tracheostomy. Which coexisting condition in the client may cause an inaccurate pulse oximetry reading?

Hypotension Hypotension, shock, or the use of peripheral vasoconstricting medications may result in inaccurate pulse oximetry readings as a result of impaired peripheral perfusion. Fever and epilepsy would not affect the accuracy of measurement. Respiratory failure also would not affect the accuracy of measurement, although the readings may be abnormally low.

A chest x-ray report for a client indicates the presence of a left apical pneumothorax. The nurse would assess the status of breath sounds in that area by placing the stethoscope in which location?

Just under the left clavicle The apex of the lung is the rounded, uppermost part of the lung. Therefore, the nurse would place the stethoscope just under the left clavicle. All of the other options are incorrect locations for assessing the left apex.

The nurse is assessing a client presenting with a temperature of 103° F (39.4° C), severe muscle aches, and headache who states that the symptoms "came out of nowhere." The client states that other family members in the home are having similar symptoms. The client's lung sounds are clear to auscultation, the sinuses are nontender to palpation, there is no nasal drainage, the tympanic membranes are pearly gray bilaterally, the tonsils are without redness or exudates, and the anterior and posterior cervical lymph nodes are negative for lymphadenopathy. Which condition would the nurse suspect?

Influenza Influenza is a viral illness characterized by the sudden onset of high fever ranging from 103° F to 104° F (39.4° C to 40° C) with severe myalgia. Lung sounds are often clear to auscultation, and the client may or may not have a headache, sore throat, or nasal congestion. Option 1 is not as likely since the client's sinuses are nontender to palpation and there is no nasal drainage present. Option 3 is unlikely due to the physical exam finding that the tonsils are free of redness and exudates. Option 4 is not as likely as high fevers are rare with viral rhinitis. Therefore, option 2 is correct.

The nurse is reviewing the pathophysiology of influenza and the various strains of the disease. The nurse would correctly identify H3N2 as which type of influenza?

Influenza A Influenza is divided into four different serotypes: A, B, C, and D. Influenza A is further delineated into different strains based on two viral surface proteins: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). An example of influenza A is H1N1, otherwise known as the swine flu. Therefore, option 1 is the correct answer, as influenza A viruses are further named based on the H and N proteins.

The nurse and an assistive personnel (AP) are assisting the respiratory therapist to position a client for postural drainage. The AP asks the nurse how the respiratory therapist selects the position to be used for the procedure. The nurse responds that a position is chosen that will use gravity to help drain secretions from which primary areas?

Lobes Postural drainage uses specific client positions that vary depending on the affected lobe or lobes. The positions usually place the head lower than the affected lung segments to facilitate drainage of secretions. Postural drainage often is done in conjunction with chest percussion for maximum effectiveness. The other options are incorrect.

The nurse in the emergency department is reviewing laboratory results for a client with carbon monoxide poisoning. The client's carboxyhemoglobin level is 25%. How would the nurse interpret the severity of carbon monoxide poisoning?

Moderate poisoning Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is released into the air due to combustion. Carbon monoxide has a higher affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen, forming carboxyhemoglobin and thereby impeding the body's ability to oxygenate tissues. Laboratory testing to determine the severity of carbon monoxide poisoning is a serum carboxyhemoglobin level. A normal carbon monoxide, or carboxyhemoglobin, level is 1% to 10%. Mild poisoning is indicated by carbon monoxide levels ranging from 11% to 20%. Moderate poisoning is indicated by carbon monoxide levels ranging from 21% to 40%. Severe poisoning is indicated by carbon monoxide levels ranging from 41% to 60%. Lastly, fatal poisoning is indicated by carbon monoxide levels ranging from 61% to 80%. Therefore, a carboxyhemoglobin level of 25% indicates moderate carbon monoxide poisoning. Therefore, option 4 is correct.

The nurse is assessing the respiratory status of a client who has suffered a fractured rib. The nurse would expect to note which finding?

Pain, especially with inspiration Rib fractures result from a blunt injury or a fall. Typical signs and symptoms include pain and tenderness localized at the fracture site that is exacerbated by inspiration and palpation, shallow respirations, splinting or guarding the chest protectively to minimize chest movement, and possible bruising at the fracture site. Paradoxical respirations are seen with flail chest.

The nurse is assessing the respiratory status of a client who has suffered a fractured rib. The nurse would expect to note which finding?

Pain, especially with inspiration Rib fractures result from a blunt injury or a fall. Typical signs and symptoms include shallow respirations, splinting or guarding the chest protectively to minimize chest movement, pain and tenderness localized at the fracture site that is exacerbated by inspiration and palpation, and possible bruising at the fracture site. Paradoxical respirations are seen with flail chest.

The nurse is planning care for an 81-year-old unresponsive client admitted to the hospital with a medical diagnosis of pneumonia. The nurse has identified the problem of inability to clear the airway related to retained secretions. Which intervention is most appropriate?

Provide nasotracheal suctioning as needed to remove secretions. Ineffective airway clearance reflects the client's inability to expectorate secretions. The intervention specifically addressing retained secretions is the correct option. Options 1 and 4 are interventions addressing impaired problem with gas exchange. Option 2 is an intervention aimed at addressing a problem with activity intolerance.

A client with long-standing empyema undergoes decortication of the affected lung area. Postoperatively the nurse would place the client in which position?

Semi-Fowler's After any procedure involving lung surgery, the nurse would position the client in semi-Fowler's position. This position allows for maximal lung expansion and promotes drainage through the chest tube that may be placed during surgery. The positions identified in the remaining options will limit lung expansion.

The nursing student is reviewing the pathophysiology of carbon monoxide poisoning. After reviewing the material, how would the nursing student correctly interpret a carboxyhemoglobin level of 56%?

Severe poisoning A normal carbon monoxide, or carboxyhemoglobin, level is 1% to 10%. Mild poisoning is indicated by carbon monoxide levels ranging from 11% to 20%. Moderate poisoning is indicated by carbon monoxide levels ranging from 21% to 40%. Severe poisoning is indicated by carbon monoxide levels ranging from 41% to 60%. Lastly, fatal poisoning is indicated by carbon monoxide levels ranging from 61% to 80%. Therefore, a carboxyhemoglobin level of 56% indicates severe carbon monoxide poisoning. Therefore, option 3 is correct.

The nurse performs an admission assessment on a client with a diagnosis of tuberculosis. The nurse would check the results of which diagnostic test that will confirm this diagnosis?

Sputum culture Tuberculosis is definitively diagnosed through culture and isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A presumptive diagnosis is made based on a tuberculin skin test, a sputum smear that is positive for acid-fast bacteria, a chest x-ray, and histological evidence of granulomatous disease on biopsy.

A client tells the nurse that the primary health care provider (PHCP) has stated a diagnosis of silicosis. The nurse determines that which finding is consistent with this respiratory disorder?

The client has reduced lung volume and fibrosis on chest x-ray. The client with silicosis has evidence of fibrosis on chest x-ray. Pulmonary function studies reveal some decreases in vital capacity and total lung volume. This disease is restricted to the respiratory system only.

The nurse caring for a client who has a pneumothorax notes continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber of the client's closed chest drainage system. How would the nurse interpret this finding?

There is an air leak somewhere in the system. Continuous bubbling through both inspiration and expiration indicates that there is air leaking into the system. A resolving pneumothorax or a full drainage chamber would not cause bubbling with respiration in the water seal chamber. Shutting off the suction to the system stops bubbling in the suction control chamber but does not affect the water seal chamber.

The nurse is caring for a client who underwent a pleurodesis procedure to treat a recurrent pleural effusion. The medication was instilled into the chest tube at 1600 and subsequently clamped. At what time will the nurse unclamp the chest tube?

2400 During a pleurodesis procedure, a chemical irritant, such as doxycycline or bleomycin, is instilled into the pleural cavity via a chest tube. The medication needs to stay in place for at least 8 hours to be effective. Options 1, 2, and 3 are too early to unclamp the chest tube as the medication would be in place for only 2, 4, and 6 hours, respectively. Therefore, option 4 is correct.

The clinic nurse administers a tuberculin skin test to a client. The nurse tells the client to return to the clinic for the results in how long?

48 to 72 hours The tuberculin skin test is an accurate and reliable test that will provide information to the primary health care provider about the client's possible exposure status to tuberculosis. Interpretation of the skin test result needs to be done 48 to 72 hours after the injection.

The nurse is preparing a client diagnosed with a partial foreign body airway obstruction for a procedure to facilitate foreign body removal. The nurse would prepare the client for which of the following procedures?

Bronchoscopy Bronchoscopy is a procedure in which a fiberoptic scope is introduced into the bronchi. This procedure is used for several purposes, including to suction mucous plugs, lavage the lungs, or remove foreign objects. Paracentesis is a procedure in which fluid is removed from the peritoneal space via a needle or catheter. Thoracentesis is a procedure in which pleural fluid is removed from the pleural space via a needle or catheter. A lung biopsy is a procedure in which lung tissue is obtained via several routes, including transbronchial or percutaneous biopsy, transthoracic needle aspiration, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), or open lung biopsy. Therefore, since bronchoscopy is a procedure to remove a foreign object from the lungs, option 4 is correct.

The nurse is caring for a client with a suspected lower airway infection. The nurse determines that the client is experiencing a productive cough with clear sputum, voice hoarseness, and myalgia. The client's chest x-ray (CXR) demonstrates consolidation in the right and left lower lung lobes, and laboratory results indicate leukocytosis. Based on these data, which client finding would rule out bronchitis?

Consolidation of the right and left lower lung lobes on CXR Acute bronchitis is inflammation of the lower respiratory tract bronchi that is usually caused by a virus, but can also be bacterial in nature. Signs and symptoms include a cough, which is often productive with clear or purulent sputum, headache, fever, malaise, myalgia, dyspnea, and chest pain. Client assessment may reveal normal breath sounds or adventitious sounds, such as crackles or wheezes on expiration. However, with bronchitis, consolidation would be negative on the CXR and instead pneumonia would be suspected. Furthermore, leukocytosis, which is an elevated white blood cell (WBC) count, would be expected for an infectious or inflammatory process such as bronchitis. Therefore, option 4 is the correct answer; when consolidation is present on the client's CXR, a diagnosis other than bronchitis, such as pneumonia, would be suspected.

The nurse is preparing a room for a client diagnosed with pertussis. Which type of precautions would the nurse plan to implement for the client?

Droplet precautions Pertussis is an extremely contagious bacterial infection of the lower respiratory tract caused by the organism Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis). The condition is characterized by a whooping-like cough. Although the clinical presentation may be more severe in infants and children, pertussis also can affect adults. Pertussis is transmitted via respiratory droplets, and droplet precautions are appropriate when treating a client with this condition. Therefore, option 1 is correct.

The nurse is discussing the techniques of chest physiotherapy and postural drainage (respiratory treatments) to a client having expectoration problems because of chronic thick, tenacious mucus production in the lower airway. The nurse explains that after the client is positioned for postural drainage, the nurse will perform which action to help loosen secretions?

Percussion and vibration Chest physiotherapy of percussion and vibration helps to loosen secretions in the smaller lower airways. Postural drainage positions the client so that gravity can help mucus move from smaller airways to larger ones to support expectoration of the mucus. Options 1, 3, and 4 are not actions that will loosen secretions.

The nurse is assisting a radiologist to facilitate a thoracentesis for a client with pleural effusion. The nurse assists the client to a position that widens the spaces between the ribs to help drain which area?

Pleural space Thoracentesis is the needle aspiration of fluid or air from the pleural space for diagnostic or management purposes. Thoracentesis may be done at the bedside and is often done with imaging for guidance. The other options are incorrect.

A nurse working in a primary health care provider's office receives a call from a client's caregiver. The caregiver sounds concerned and states that the client was diagnosed with COVID-19, has labored breathing with intercostal retractions, and is now acting confused. Which is the appropriate nursing response?

Tell the caregiver to immediately seek emergency medical care for the client. COVID-19 is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus with symptoms ranging in severity from mild to severe. COVID-19 is spread through several mechanisms, including breathing in air contaminated with the virus; having droplets land in the mucous membranes, such as the eyes, nose, or mouth; or touching a contaminated surface and then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth. While many cases can be managed in the home setting, there are emergency warning signs that warrant immediate medical attention. These warning signs include difficulty breathing, chest pain, new-onset confusion, somnolence, and peripheral or central cyanosis. Since the client is experiencing difficulty breathing and confusion, the nurse would tell the caregiver to seek emergency medical care for the client immediately to prevent further complications, including acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and death. Options 2, 3, and 4 are inappropriate responses and would further delay the client's care. Therefore, option 1 is correct.

The nurse caring for a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) anticipates which arterial blood gas (ABG) findings?

pH, 7.32; PaO2, 85 mm Hg; CO2, 57 mEq/L; HCO3, 26 mEq/L A client with COPD will exist in a state of respiratory acidosis. Options 2 and 4 reflect an acidotic pH. However, option 2 demonstrates increased CO2; a decreased pH and an increased CO2 indicate respiratory acidosis. Increased CO2 acts as an acid in the body, and CO2 is elevated in the client with COPD because of an inability to exhale well and eliminate CO2. Therefore, with a rise in CO2, there is a corresponding fall in pH. The other options are incorrect.

A client calls the primary health care provider's (PHCP's) office after testing positive for COVID-19 infection 5 days earlier. The client is asymptomatic and asks the nurse when it would be safe to stop self-isolation. Which is the appropriate nursing response?

"At least 10 days will need to have passed since your first positive COVID-19 test." For a client with asymptomatic COVID-19 infection, the recommendation is for at least 10 days to pass after the client's first positive COVID-19 test before the client can safely end self-isolation. Therefore, option 3 is correct. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may alter recommendations based on research so it is important to access their website for the most current updates.

A client who experiences frequent upper respiratory infections (URIs) asks the nurse why food does not seem to have any taste during illness. Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

"Blocked nasal passages impair the sense of smell." When nasal passages become blocked as a result of a URI, the client has an impaired sense of taste and smell. This occurs because one of the normal functions of the nose is to stimulate appetite through the sense of smell. The other options are incorrect and unrelated to this symptom.

The client is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of Legionnaires' disease. The nurse is providing information on the disease and treatment expectations. Which statement by the client indicates an understanding of the disease and treatments?

"I cannot give Legionnaires' disease to other people." Legionnaires' disease is spread through infected aerosolized water. The mode of transmission is not person to person. Antibiotics must be given for the entire duration of the prescription; therefore, the remaining options are incorrect.

The nurse is providing teaching to a client diagnosed with influenza A about measures to decrease symptom severity and manage the condition at home. According to the client, the symptoms started approximately 3 days ago, including fever and severe body aches. Which of the following client statements would indicate a need for further teaching?

"I don't understand why the primary health care provider (PHCP) did not give me a prescription for an antiviral medication. I feel really sick and I need it!" Depending on the client's comorbidities and presenting signs and symptoms, influenza may be largely managed in the outpatient setting. Treatment measures are largely supportive; they include increased fluid intake, ibuprofen or acetaminophen to decrease myalgia and fever, and decreasing the risk of transmission to others, which means avoiding close contact with others and engaging in frequent handwashing. Therefore, options 1, 2, and 3 are correct statements that do not require a need for further teaching. Antiviral medications may be prescribed for clients with influenza; however, these medications are most effective if given within 24 to 48 hours of symptom onset, which is not the case for this client. Therefore, option 4 is the correct answer as it is the client statement that requires a need for further teaching.

The nurse is providing education to a client diagnosed with valley fever (coccidioidomycosis). Which statement from the client would require a need for further teaching?

"I need to isolate myself at home, as this condition is highly contagious." Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) is a fungal infection caused by Coccidiodes that is more common in certain areas of the world, including the southwestern United States, Central America, and South America. The microscopic fungal spores are inhaled via dust, and the condition is not contagious or transmissible from person-to-person. The condition may need to be treated with antifungal medication. Therefore, option 4 is the client statement that requires further teaching as this condition is not contagious.

The nurse has conducted discharge teaching with a client diagnosed with tuberculosis who has been receiving medication for 2 weeks. The nurse determines that the client has understood the information if the client makes which statement?

"I won't be contagious after 2 to 3 weeks of medication therapy." The client is continued on medication therapy for up to 12 months, depending on the situation. The client generally is considered noncontagious after 2 to 3 weeks of medication therapy. The client is instructed to wear a mask if there will be exposure to crowds until the medication is effective in preventing transmission. The client is allowed to return to work when the results of three sputum cultures are negative.

The nurse is providing education to a client diagnosed with acute laryngitis. Which client statement indicates a need for further teaching?

"I would only whisper to talk." Acute laryngitis refers to swelling and inflammation of the larynx that can result from a viral or bacterial infection, voice overuse, or exposure to inhalant chemicals. The treatment for acute laryngitis is supportive in nature; antibiotics are prescribed if the condition is caused by bacteria. Supportive measures include acetaminophen as needed for pain, humidifier use, throat lozenges, increased fluid intake, and avoidance of caffeine and alcohol. The client needs to be educated to limit the use of the voice to rest the larynx. Whispering needs to be avoided, as this causes more strain on the larynx. Therefore, option 1 is the client statement that would require further teaching from the nurse, as whispering would be avoided.

The nurse working in a primary health care provider (PHCP) office is providing instructions to a family member of a client diagnosed with COVID-19 about measures to take in the home to prevent the spread of illness. The nurse determines that there is a need for further teaching if the family member makes which statement?

"If available, I need to use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol instead of washing my hands with warm water and soap." Many clients with mild COVID-19 infection are managed in the home setting, and there are certain measures that can be taken to prevent the spread of the infection throughout the household. If possible, the ill client would stay in their own bedroom and avoid sharing a bathroom with other household members. Caregivers would frequently disinfect high-touch surfaces in the home, such as doorknobs and remote controls. If possible, the individuals living in the same household as the ill client should quarantine to prevent community spread of COVID-19. If the caregiver must enter the ill client's room, both the caregiver and the ill client need to wear masks. Handwashing with warm soap and water for at least 20 seconds is the most effective way to wash hands and prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection. If water and soap are unavailable, the next best option would be to use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Since handwashing is the preferred method to clean hands, option 4 is the client statement that requires a need for further teaching from the nurse and is the correct answer.

The nursing instructor is reviewing the pathophysiology of influenza. The nursing instructor determines there is a need for further teaching if the nursing student makes which statement regarding influenza?

"Influenza A infects only humans." Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory viral infection that is spread through infected droplets via inhalation of aerosolized particles or from direct contact with contaminated surfaces. Therefore, option 2 is a correct statement. Influenza is divided into four serotypes, or influenza A, B, C, or D, with each type having different characteristics. Of the four types, influenza C and D do not cause significant illness in humans; therefore, option 3 is an accurate statement. Influenza A is further classified by two characteristic surface proteins, known as the hemagglutinin protein and neuraminidase protein and are named based on their H and N type (for example, H1N1). Therefore, option 4 is a correct statement. Influenza A can infect both animals and humans and is the cause of both the swine and avian flu. Therefore, option 1 is an inaccurate statement and requires further teaching from the nursing instructor.

A client in the primary health care provider's (PHCP's) office for an annual well visit asks the nurse about the differences between influenza and the common cold (viral rhinitis). The nurse would make which response to the client?

"Influenza has a rapid symptom onset, while common cold symptoms appear gradually." Influenza and the common cold, otherwise known as viral rhinitis, have various differences and similarities that assist in the diagnosis of each condition. Influenza is commonly associated with a high fever, whereas fevers with the common cold are rare. Therefore, option 2 is incorrect. Severe muscle pains, or myalgia, are common with the flu and rare with the common cold. Therefore, option 3 is incorrect. There is an annual vaccination available for influenza, not the common cold. Therefore, option 4 is incorrect. Influenza symptom onset is rapid, whereas symptom onset for the common cold is more gradual or insidious. Therefore, option 1 is the correct statement.

The nurse working in a primary care provider's (PHCP's) office receives a call from a client last seen 4 weeks ago who was diagnosed with acute bronchitis. The client states adherence to the supportive measures that were prescribed, yet the symptoms have not improved and the dyspnea has worsened. Which is the most appropriate response from the nurse?

"Please come into the office as soon as possible for further evaluation and treatment." Acute bronchitis may be viral or bacterial in nature and is usually a self-limiting condition. Treatment is usually supportive with antitussives, bronchodilators, and air humidification. If influenza is the cause of the bronchitis, antivirals may be appropriate. If symptoms do not improve or are worsening after 4 weeks, such as increasing dyspnea or fever, the client needs to be reevaluated for potential complications of bronchitis that require further treatment, such as pneumonia. Therefore, option 2 is correct. Options 1, 3, and 4 do not address the client's concern; these options tell the client to continue the supportive measures despite worsening symptoms.

The nurse is caring for a client with no significant medical history who tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing moderate symptoms of cough, shortness of breath, and loss of sense of smell. The client asks the nurse when the infectious stage of the virus will end and the transmission-based precautions can be safely discontinued. Which is the appropriate nursing response? Select all that apply.

"Your symptoms need to have started to improve." "At least 5 days will need to have passed since your symptoms first appeared." "You need to be fever-free for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications." There are several criteria the client must meet before COVID-19 transmission-based precautions can be discontinued, and the criteria differ based on the severity of the illness. For mild to moderate illness in which the client is symptomatic, the three criteria that all must be met include (1) at least 5 days have passed since the onset of symptoms, (2) symptoms are improving, and (3) the client has been fever-free for at least 24 hours without antipyretic medications. Option 2 provides the client with inaccurate information. Option 5 is incorrect because only a 24-hour period, not a 48-hour period, without fevers is required for transmission-based precautions to be discontinued. Therefore, options 1, 3 and 4 are correct.

The emergency room nurse is caring for a client rescued from a house fire that is exhibiting signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. The client is complaining of the room spinning, ringing in the ears, headache, and nausea. The client is becoming increasingly irritable and confused. Physical assessment shows reddish-purple skin, and the ordered electrocardiogram (ECG) demonstrates a depressed ST segment. The nurse would determine that the severity of the client's carbon monoxide poisoning correlates with which range in the carboxyhemoglobin level?

21%-40% A normal carbon monoxide, or carboxyhemoglobin, level is 1% to 10%. Mild poisoning is indicated by carbon monoxide levels ranging from 11% to 20%. The physiological effects with mild poisoning include headache, slight breathlessness, decreased cerebral function, and blurred vision. Moderate poisoning is indicated by carbon monoxide levels ranging from 21% to 40%. Signs and symptoms of moderate poisoning include headache, tinnitus (ringing in ears), nausea, drowsiness, vertigo (spinning sensation), altered mental status, confusion, stupor, irritability, pale to reddish-purple skin, hypotension, tachycardia, and dysrhythmias or ST segment depression on an ECG. Severe poisoning is indicated by carbon monoxide levels ranging from 41% to 60%. Clinical manifestations of severe poisoning include coma, convulsions, and cardiopulmonary instability. Lastly, fatal poisoning is indicated by carbon monoxide levels ranging from 61% to 80%, and death occurs. Therefore, the signs and symptoms the client is exhibiting are characteristic of moderate carbon monoxide poisoning and a carboxyhemoglobin level range of 21% to 40%. Therefore, option 3 is correct.

The nurse is assisting a pulmonologist with a pleurodesis to treat a client with recurrent pleural effusions. After the pulmonologist instills the medication into the pleural space, for how long would the nurse anticipate the chest tube drainage system will need to be clamped?

8 hours Pleurodesis is a procedure in which a medication, such as doxycycline or bleomycin, is instilled into the pleural space via an existing chest tube. The medication triggers an inflammatory reaction that destroys the pleural space, thereby preventing future fluid accumulation. The chest tube drainage system needs to be clamped for a period of 8 hours after the procedure, after which it is unclamped and the medication is allowed to drain out of the lungs. Options 1, 2 and 3 are inadequate amounts of time for the medication to exert its therapeutic effect after this procedure. Therefore, option 4 is correct.

The nurse is caring for a client hospitalized with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Which findings would the nurse expect to note on assessment of this client? Select all that apply.

A hyperinflated chest noted on the chest x-ray Decreased oxygen saturation with mild exercise Clinical manifestations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) include hypoxemia, hypercapnia, dyspnea on exertion and at rest, oxygen desaturation with exercise, and the use of accessory muscles of respiration. Chest x-rays reveal a hyperinflated chest and a flattened diaphragm if the disease is advanced. Pulmonary function tests will demonstrate decreased vital capacity.

The nurse is providing care for a client recently admitted with new-onset pleurisy. Upon auscultation of the client's lungs, the nurse notes an absence of the pleural friction rub that was documented on previous assessments. What is the most likely indication for this change in the client's lung sounds?

Accumulation of pleural fluid in the inflamed area Pleural friction rub is auscultated early in the course of pleurisy before pleural fluid accumulates. Once fluid accumulates in the inflamed area, friction between the visceral and parietal lung surfaces decreases, and the pleural friction rub disappears. The remaining options are incorrect interpretations.

The nurse is responding to an adult client who aspirated while eating in a restaurant; the client is choking and becomes unresponsive. The client has a pulse with agonal breathing. The nurse has already called for an automatic external defibrillator (AED) and activated the emergency response system. Which of the following nursing interventions is appropriate in the care of this client?

Administer rescue breaths at a rate of 10 to 12 breaths per minute Foreign body airway obstruction can result in a partial or complete obstruction of the airway. The initial response would be to check the client's mouth for the cause of the obstruction and to manually relieve the obstruction if possible. Abdominal thrusts or the Heimlich maneuver should be attempted to relieve the obstruction. If the client loses consciousness or becomes unresponsive, the nurse would lower the client to the floor and check for a pulse and respirations. If no pulse is present, the nurse would initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation. However, in this case, remember that the client has a pulse and agonal breathing, which is not adequate for oxygenation. Rescue breaths need to be initiated immediately just as if the client were not breathing at all. The nurse would deliver rescue breaths every 5 to 6 seconds or at a rate of 10 to 12 breaths per minute and recheck the carotid pulse every 2 minutes until further help arrives. Option 1 is incorrect because the nurse would assess the client further and gather more information before initiating chest compressions. Also, the client has a pulse, so unless the client becomes pulseless, it is an inappropriate action to take. Option 2 is incorrect because every 5 minutes is too infrequent and the carotid pulse needs to be reassessed every 2 minutes while delivering rescue breaths. Option 3 is incorrect because it is an inappropriate rate; rescue breaths need to be administered at a rate of 10 to 12 breaths per minute.

The nurse is reviewing the interventions for relieving an airway obstruction. Which initial action would be taken in this situation?

Assess for the cause of the obstruction Airway obstruction can be related to a variety of causes. The first step when intervening in this situation is to assess the cause of the obstruction in order to determine the appropriate interventions to relieve the obstruction. Therefore, option 4 is the correct answer. If the obstruction is due to the tongue blocking the airway or a buildup of excessive secretions, the client's head and neck would be extended and a nasal or oral airway would be inserted for suctioning. If the airway is blocked due to a foreign body, abdominal thrusts would be initiated.

The nurse is caring for a client with dysphagia who is diagnosed with pneumonia and prescribed a honey-thick diet. The nurse is preparing to assist the client with eating. Which is the priority nursing action?

Assess the client's gag reflex The priority nursing action for a client with dysphagia is to assess for an intact gag reflex before attempting to feed the client in order to prevent aspiration. While options 2, 3, and 4 are all appropriate nursing interventions in the care of this client, these interventions would be done after assessing for a gag reflex and are not the highest priority. Therefore, option 1 is correct.

The nurse is reviewing the pleural fluid cytology report for a client with pleural effusion. The report describes the fluid as clear and pale yellow with no red blood cells (RBCs) or white blood cells (WBCs) detected. Based on these results, which underlying condition would the nurse suspect?

Congestive heart failure There are various types of pleural fluid, including transudative fluid or exudative fluid, depending on the underlying cause. Exudate is typically cloudy and yellow and is cell-rich, including WBCs. Generally, exudate indicates an underlying infectious, inflammatory, or malignant process. Transudate is clear or pale yellow with few cells present. Transudate can be related to congestive heart failure due to fluid overload; cirrhosis due to decreased albumin production and subsequent decreased oncotic pressure; or renal disease, which contributes to fluid overload and increased capillary pressure. Options 1, 2 and 3 are either malignant or infectious processes and would likely cause an exudative pleural effusion. Since the client's pleural fluid is clear and pale yellow with no RBCs or WBCs, the transudate is present. Therefore, option 4 is correct as congestive heart failure is associated with transudative pleural effusion.

The nurse is reviewing the pathophysiology of pneumonia. The nurse would correctly identify which infection source as an example of hematogenous spread in the pathogenesis of pneumonia?

Develops from a primary infection at a different site in the body Pneumonia is an acute infection of the lung tissue. Several defense mechanisms protect the lung from infection; however, there are three identified methods by which pathogens reach the lung—aspiration, inhalation, or hematogenous spread. Options 2 and 3 both describe the aspiration route of the pathogenesis of pneumonia, in which normal inhabitants of the oropharynx and nasopharynx reach the lung tissue and cause infection. Option 1 describes the inhalation route. Option 4 describes the hematogenous spread route, as this refers to a primary infection elsewhere in the body, such as endocarditis, spreading to the lung tissue and causing a secondary infection. Therefore, option 4 is correct.

The nurse is providing education to a group of adolescents diagnosed with asthma. The nurse informs the group that which can be triggers for an asthma attack? Select all that apply.

Dry air Exercise An upper respiratory infection (URI) Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Triggers for asthma include response to the presence of specific allergens; general irritants such as cold air, dry air, or fine airborne particles; microorganisms; and aspirin and other NSAIDs. Increased airway sensitivity (hyperresponsiveness) can occur with exercise, with an upper respiratory illness, and for unknown reasons. Clean air and adequate rest and sleep help to promote lung function.

The nurse is caring for a client at risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). As part of the plan, the nurse will assess for which sign or symptom for early detection of this disorder?

Dyspnea In most cases of ARDS, tachypnea and dyspnea are the first clinical manifestations. Blood-tinged frothy sputum would be a later sign after the development of pulmonary edema. Breath sounds in the early stages of ARDS usually are clear. Edema is not directly associated with ARDS.

A client is suspected of having a pulmonary embolus. The nurse assesses the client, knowing that which is a common clinical manifestation of pulmonary embolism?

Dyspnea The common clinical manifestations of pulmonary embolism are tachypnea, tachycardia, dyspnea, and chest pain.

The community health nurse is conducting an educational session with community members regarding the signs and symptoms associated with tuberculosis. The nurse informs the participants that tuberculosis is considered as a diagnosis if which signs and symptoms are present? Select all that apply.

Dyspnea Night sweats A bloody, productive cough A cough with the expectoration of mucoid sputum Tuberculosis should be considered for any client with a persistent cough with mucoid sputum production, weight loss, anorexia, night sweats, hemoptysis, shortness of breath, fever, or chills. The client's previous exposure to tuberculosis needs to also be assessed and correlated with the clinical manifestations.

The nurse is caring for a client who suffered an inhalation injury from a wood stove. The carbon monoxide blood report reveals a level of 12%. Based on this level, the nurse would anticipate noting which sign in the client?

Flushing Carbon monoxide levels between 11% and 20% result in flushing, headache, decreased visual activity, decreased cerebral functioning, and slight breathlessness; levels of 21% to 40% result in nausea, vomiting, dizziness, tinnitus, vertigo, confusion, drowsiness, pale to reddish-purple skin, and tachycardia; levels of 41% to 60% result in seizure and coma; and levels higher than 60% result in death.

Which nursing interventions are appropriate in caring for a client with emphysema? Select all that apply.

Teach diaphragmatic and pursed-lip breathing. Encourage alternating activity with rest periods. Teach the client techniques of chest physiotherapy. Fluids are encouraged, not reduced, to liquefy secretions for easier expectoration. Diaphragmatic and pursed-lip breathing assists in opening alveoli and eases dyspnea. The client needs to be encouraged to perform activities and exercise, such as dressing and walking, as tolerated with rest periods in between. Chest physiotherapy consists of percussion, vibration, and postural drainage. These techniques are helpful in removing secretions. Elevating the head of the bed assists with breathing.

A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has a respiratory rate of 24 breaths per minute, bilateral crackles, and cyanosis and is coughing but unable to expectorate sputum. Which problem is the priority?

Inability to clear the airway related to inability to expectorate sputum COPD is a term that represents the pathology and symptoms that occur with clients experiencing both emphysema and chronic bronchitis. All of the problems listed are potentially appropriate for a client with COPD. For the nurse prioritizing this client's problems, it is important first to maintain circulation, airway, and breathing. At present, the client demonstrates problems with ventilation because of ineffective coughing, so the correct option would be the priority problem. The bilateral crackles would suggest fluid or sputum in the alveoli or airways; however, the client is unable to expectorate this sputum. The client's respiratory rate is only slightly elevated, so option 3, altered breathing pattern, is not as important as airway. The client is cyanotic, but this probably is because of the ineffective clearance of the sputum, causing poor gas exchange. The data in the question do not support low cardiac output as being most important at this time.

The nurse would provide which home care instructions to a client with laryngeal cancer who had a laryngectomy and has a stoma? Select all that apply.

Increase the humidity in the home. Obtain and wear a MedicAlert bracelet. Stay away from people who have a respiratory infection. Be careful with showering to avoid water entering the stoma. The nurse would teach the client how to care for the stoma, depending on the type of laryngectomy performed. Most interventions focus on protection of the stoma and the prevention of infection. Interventions include obtaining a MedicAlert bracelet, avoiding exposure to people with infections, avoiding swimming, using care when showering, and preventing debris from entering the stoma. Additional interventions include wearing a stoma guard or high-collared clothing to cover the stoma, increasing the humidity in the home, and increasing fluid intake to 3000 mL/day to keep the secretions thin.

The nurse is caring for a postoperative pneumonectomy client. Which finding on assessment of the client is an adverse sign or symptom indicating pulmonary edema?

Lung crackles in the remaining lung The client with pulmonary edema that developed after pneumonectomy demonstrates dyspnea, cough, frothy sputum, crackles, and possibly cyanosis. Pain with deep breathing is expected and is managed with analgesics. The client with pneumonectomy most likely will not have a chest tube because the lung has been removed. A respiratory rate of 20 breaths/minute is within normal limits.

The nurse is teaching a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease about positions that help breathing during dyspneic episodes. The nurse instructs the client to avoid which position, which would aggravate breathing?

Lying on the back in a low-Fowler's position The client would not lie on the back because this reduces movement of a large area of the client's chest wall. The client would use positions that allow for maximal chest expansion. Sitting, if possible, is better than standing. If no chair is available, leaning against a wall while standing allows accessory muscles to be used for breathing and not for posture control.

The nurse is caring for a client who underwent a thoracentesis to treat pleural effusion. The pleural fluid testing results indicate the pleural fluid is cloudy and confirm the presence of white blood cells (WBCs). Which condition would the nurse suspect?

Malignancy Pleural effusion is a sign of an underlying disease process and the type of pleural fluid can provide information about what underlying disease is responsible for the effusion. Pleural fluid is described as transudative or exudative. Transudative pleural fluid is typically a clear, pale yellow fluid due to the lack of protein or cells in the fluid. Congestive heart failure, chronic liver disease such as cirrhosis, or renal disease may be the underlying cause of a transudative pleural effusion. Exudative fluid is cloudy due to the presence of WBCs and is a sign of an inflammatory or infectious process, including malignancy. In this situation, the pleural fluid is exudative since it is cloudy and WBCs are present. Since options 1, 3 and 4 are likely related to transudative, clear pleural fluid, option 2 is the correct answer.

The nurse is assessing a client diagnosed with COVID-19. Objective data include a respiratory rate of 20 breaths per minute, oxygen saturation of 95% on room air, temperature of 101.6° F (38.6° C), lungs clear to auscultation bilaterally, and a chest x-ray (CXR) negative for an acute pulmonary process. Subjective findings include fatigue, malaise, and muscle aches, but the client denies shortness of breath. How would the nurse classify the client's illness severity?

Mild illness COVID-19 severity can be determined by several client factors. Mild illness is defined as clients who have signs of COVID-19, such as cough, fevers, sore throat, headache, or malaise with no evidence of shortness of breath or abnormal chest imaging. Moderate illness is defined as clients with evidence of pathological respiratory disease as demonstrated on imaging or assessment and an oxygen saturation equal to or greater than 94% on room air. Severe illness is defined as clients with a respiratory rate greater than 30 breaths per minute, an oxygen saturation of less than 94% or a decrease of 3% from baseline in clients with chronic hypoxemia, a ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen (Pao2/Fio2) less than 300 mm Hg or lung infiltrates greater than 50%. Critical illness is defined as clients experiencing respiratory failure, septic shock, or multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Since the client's respiratory rate and oxygen saturation are stable, the CXR is negative, and the client is not experiencing shortness of breath, the nurse would determine that the client is experiencing a mild illness.

The nurse is assessing a client diagnosed with COVID-19. The client is experiencing dyspnea with a respiratory rate of 24 breaths per minute, oxygen saturation of 94% on room air, and a temperature of 102° F (38.8° C). Lung auscultation reveals fine crackles in the bilateral lung bases, and chest x-ray demonstrates bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. How would the nurse classify the client's illness severity?

Moderate illness COVID-19 severity can be determined by several client factors. Mild illness is defined as clients who have signs of COVID-19, such as cough, fevers, sore throat, headache, or malaise with no evidence of shortness of breath or abnormal chest imaging. Moderate illness is defined as clients with evidence of pathological respiratory disease as demonstrated on imaging or assessment and an oxygen saturation greater than or equal to 94% on room air. Severe illness is defined as clients with a respiratory rate greater than 30 breaths per minute, an oxygen saturation of less than 94% on room air or a decrease of 3% from baseline in clients with chronic hypoxemia, a ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen (Pao2/Fio2) of less than 300 mm Hg, or lung infiltrates greater than 50%. Critical illness is defined as clients experiencing respiratory failure, septic shock, or multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Since the client's oxygen saturation is not less than 94%, the respiratory rate is below 30 breaths per minute, and there is radiographic evidence of pulmonary disease on the chest x-ray, the nurse would determine the client is experiencing moderate illness from COVID-19.

A client who is intubated and receiving mechanical ventilation is at risk for infection. The nurse would include which measures in the care of this client? Select all that apply.

Monitor the client's temperature. Use sterile technique when suctioning. Use the closed-system method of suctioning. Monitor sputum characteristics and amounts. Monitoring temperature and sputum production is indicated in the care of the client. A closed-system method of suctioning and sterile technique decrease the risk of infection associated with suctioning. Water in the ventilator tubing would be emptied, not drained back into the humidifier bottle. This puts the client at risk of acquiring infection, especially Pseudomonas.

The nurse in an intensive care unit is preparing to perform oral care and suctioning on a client diagnosed with COVID-19 with an endotracheal tube receiving mechanical ventilation. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) would the nurse don?

N95 respirator, gloves, gown, and face shield Rationale:During aerosol-generating procedures, such as suctioning or administering nebulizer treatments, the nurse and other health care personnel in close contact with the client should wear an N95 respirator, gloves, a gown, and a face shield or goggles to protect against sprays or splashes of bodily fluids. During aerosol-generating procedures, a surgical mask is not recommended. Therefore, options 2 and 3 are incorrect. Option 1 is incorrect because it does not include a protective splash shield such as goggles or a face shield. Therefore, option 4 is correct.

The nurse is assessing a client presenting with a productive cough, fever, chills, dyspnea, tachypnea, and chest pain that is worse with deep inspiration. Lung auscultation reveals bilateral crackles in the lower lobes. The client's chest x-ray (CXR) reveals bilateral pulmonary infiltrates in the lower lobes. Which condition would the nurse suspect?

Pneumonia The nurse would suspect pneumonia, as pneumonia is characterized by a cough (which may or may not be productive), fever, chills, dyspnea, tachypnea, and inspiratory chest pain. Lung auscultation will reveal adventitious sounds, such as crackles. Options 1 and 2 are incorrect as the client data suggest a lower respiratory tract infection, and sinusitis and laryngitis are upper respiratory tract infections. Bronchitis and pneumonia share similar symptoms; however, the CXR for a client with acute bronchitis is normal and will not demonstrate infiltrates. Therefore, option 3 is incorrect. A CXR of a client with pneumonia will demonstrate infiltrates or the fluid buildup that occurs in this disease. Therefore, option 4 is correct.

A client who is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive has had a tuberculin skin test (TST). The nurse notes a 7-mm area of induration at the site of the skin test and interprets the result as which finding?

Positive The client with HIV infection is considered to have positive results on tuberculin skin testing with an area of induration larger than 5 mm. The client without HIV is positive with an induration larger than 10 mm. The client with HIV is immunosuppressed, making a smaller area of induration positive for this type of client. It is possible for the client infected with HIV to have false-negative readings because of the immunosuppression factor. Options 2, 3, and 4 are incorrect interpretations.

The nurse monitors the respiratory status of the client being treated for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Which assessment finding would indicate deterioration in ventilation?

Rapid, shallow respirations An increase in the rate of respirations and a decrease in the depth of respirations together indicate deterioration in ventilation. Cyanosis is not a good indicator of oxygenation in the client with COPD. Cyanosis may be present in some but not all clients. A hyperinflated chest (barrel chest) and hypertrophy of the accessory muscles of the upper chest and neck are common features of chronic COPD. During an exacerbation, coarse crackles are expected to be heard bilaterally throughout the lungs but do not indicate deterioration in ventilation.

The nurse provides discharge instructions to a client with pulmonary sarcoidosis. The nurse concludes that the client understands the information if the client indicates to report which early sign of exacerbation?

Shortness of breath Dry cough and dyspnea are typical early manifestations of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Later manifestations include night sweats, fever, weight loss, and skin nodules.

The nurse is teaching a client with emphysema about positions that help breathing during dyspneic episodes. The nurse instructs the client that which positions alleviate dyspnea? Select all that apply.

Sitting up and leaning on a table Standing and leaning against a wall Sitting up with the elbows resting on knees The client would use the positions outlined in options 1, 2, and 4. These allow for maximal chest expansion. The client would not lie on the back because this reduces movement of a large area of the client's chest wall. Sitting is better than standing, whenever possible. If no chair is available, leaning against a wall while standing allows accessory muscles to be used for breathing and not posture control.

The nurse is reviewing the clinical manifestations of foreign body airway obstruction. Which of the following would the nurse identify as signs or symptoms of this condition? Select all that apply.

Stridor Cyanosis Wheezing Intercostal retractions Acute airway obstruction is a medical emergency that needs to be recognized quickly with interventions begun early. The clinical manifestations of acute airway obstruction include choking, stridor, accessory muscle use, suprasternal or intercostal retractions, nasal flaring, wheezing, restlessness, tachycardia, cyanosis, and altered level of consciousness. Tachycardia, not bradycardia, is a clinical manifestation of acute airway obstruction. Therefore, option 4 is incorrect and options 1, 2, 3 and 5 are correct.

The nurse in an ambulatory clinic is preparing to administer a tuberculin skin test to a client who may have been exposed to a person with tuberculosis (TB). The client reports having received the bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine before moving to the United States from a foreign country. Which interpretation would the nurse make?

The client's test result will be positive, and a chest x-ray study will be required for evaluation. The BCG vaccine is routinely given in many foreign countries to enhance resistance to TB. The vaccine uses attenuated tubercle bacilli, so the results of skin testing in persons who have received the vaccine will always be positive. This client needs to be evaluated for TB with a chest radiographic study. The remaining options are incorrect interpretations.

The client is returned to the nursing unit following thoracic surgery to treat lung cancer with a chest tube in place. During the first few hours postoperatively, the nurse assesses for drainage and expects to note which characteristics?

The drainage is bloody. In the first few hours after surgery the drainage from the chest tube is bloody. After several hours it becomes serosanguineous. The client would not experience frequent clotting. Proper chest tube function would allow for drainage of blood before it has the chance to clot in the chest or the tubing.

The nursing instructor is reviewing the risk factors for upper airway obstruction with a group of nursing students. The nursing instructor determines there is a need for further teaching if the nursing student identifies which of the following as a risk factor?

Thin oral secretions There are several risk factors for upper airway obstruction. These include burns of the head or neck; anaphylaxis; absent gag reflex; upper airway abscesses; trauma of the face, trachea, or larynx; tongue occlusion; or edema and conditions with neurological sequelae, such as stroke or cerebral edema. Thick secretions that are poorly managed can harden into a crust and block the airway. Therefore, thick secretions, not thin secretions, increase the risk of airway obstruction. Therefore, option 4 is the correct answer, as this response would indicate a need for further teaching.

A client diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) is distressed over fatigue and the loss of physical stamina. What would the nurse tell the client?

This is expected, and the client would gradually increase activity as tolerated. The client with TB has significant fatigue and loss of physical stamina. This can be very frightening for the client. The nurse teaches the client that this symptom will resolve as the therapy progresses and that the client would gradually increase activity as energy levels permit.

Which position would best help the breathing of a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?

Tripod position The tripod position (leaning forward with elbows flexed) helps to decrease the work of breathing in clients who have severe shortness of breath caused by asthma, COPD, or respiratory failure. Positioning the arms in this manner increases the anterior-posterior diameter of the chest, thereby changing the pressures within the chest cavity. The sitting position and high-Fowler's position decrease the anterior-posterior diameter. The supine position will make breathing more difficult.

The experienced nurse is teaching a new graduate nurse about tracheostomy care. The experienced nurse would determine teaching has been effective if the new graduate nurse states that which client has an immature tracheostomy?

A client who underwent a tracheotomy 2 days ago After a tracheotomy, the tracheostomy tract becomes more established and matured over time. Tube dislodgment within 72 hours after a tracheotomy is considered an emergency because replacement of the tube is difficult due to the immaturity of the tract. This factor makes it more likely the tube will enter subcutaneous tissue instead of the trachea during attempted replacement. Since the client in option 1 has had the tracheotomy most recently compared with the other clients and the tracheostomy is considered immature, this client would be more likely to have complications if tube dislodgment occurs. Therefore, option 1 is the correct answer.

The nurse is caring for a client with a tracheostomy tube who is receiving mechanical ventilation. The nurse is monitoring for complications related to the tracheostomy and suspects tracheoesophageal fistula when which occurs?

Aspiration of gastric contents occurs during suctioning. Necrosis of the tracheal wall can lead to formation of an abnormal opening between the posterior trachea and the esophagus. The opening, called a tracheoesophageal fistula, allows air to escape into the stomach, causing abdominal distention. It also causes aspiration of gastric contents.

The nurse is caring for a client suspected of having lung cancer after a bronchoscopy and biopsy. Which finding, if noted in the client, would be reported immediately to the primary health care provider?

Bronchospasm If a biopsy was performed during a bronchoscopy, blood-streaked sputum is expected for several hours. Frank blood indicates hemorrhage. A dry cough may be expected. The client needs to be assessed for signs of complications, which would include cyanosis, dyspnea, stridor, bronchospasm, hemoptysis, hypotension, tachycardia, and dysrhythmias. Hematuria is unrelated to this procedure.

The nurse is performing an admission assessment on a client with tuberculosis (TB) and is collecting subjective and objective data. Which finding would the nurse expect to note?

Complaints of night sweats The client with TB usually experiences a low-grade fever, weight loss, pallor, chills, and night sweats. The client also will complain of anorexia and fatigue. Pulmonary symptoms include a cough that is productive of a scant amount of mucoid sputum. Purulent, blood-stained sputum is present if cavitation occurs. Dyspnea and chest pain occur late in the disease.

The nurse has provided a client with tuberculosis (TB) instructions on proper handling and disposal of respiratory secretions. The nurse determines that the client demonstrates understanding of the instructions when the client makes which statement?

"I will discard used tissues in a plastic bag." Used tissues are discarded in a plastic bag. The client with TB needs to wash the hands carefully after each contact with respiratory secretions. Oral care needs to be done more frequently than once a day. The client would not only turn the head but also cover the mouth and nose when laughing, sneezing, or coughing.

The nurse is providing immediate postprocedure care to a client who had a thoracentesis to relieve a tension pneumothorax that resulted from rib fractures. The goal is that the client will exhibit normal respiratory functioning, and the nurse provides instructions to assist the client with this goal. Which client statement indicates that further instruction is needed?

"I will lie on the affected side for an hour." After the procedure the client usually is turned onto the unaffected side for 1 hour to facilitate lung expansion. Tachypnea, dyspnea, cyanosis, retractions, or diminished breath sounds, which may indicate pneumothorax, need to be reported to the primary health care provider. A chest x-ray may be performed to evaluate the degree of lung reexpansion or pneumothorax. Subcutaneous emphysema (crepitus) may follow this procedure because air in the pleural cavity leaks into subcutaneous tissues. The involved tissues feel like lumpy paper and crackle when palpated (crepitus). Usually subcutaneous emphysema causes no problems unless it is increasing and constricting vital organs, such as the trachea.

The nurse is discharging a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and reviewing specific instructional points about COPD. What comment by the client indicates that further teaching is needed?

"Besides smoking, I can't be around second- or thirdhand smoke." Clients with COPD have adapted to a high carbon dioxide level, so their carbon dioxide-sensitive chemoreceptors are essentially not functioning. Their stimulus to breathe is a decreased arterial oxygen (Pao2) level, so administration of oxygen greater than 24% to 28% (1 to 3 L/min) prevents the Pao2 from falling to a level (60 mm Hg) that stimulates the peripheral receptors, thus destroying the stimulus to breathe. The resulting hypoventilation causes excessive retention of carbon dioxide, which can lead to respiratory acidosis and respiratory arrest. Therefore, oxygen administration levels for clients with COPD need to be kept within the range of 1 to 3 L/min (per primary health care provider prescription). Also, nutrition for the client with COPD requires a reduction in the percentage of carbohydrates in the diet. Excessive carbohydrate loads increase carbon dioxide production, which the client with COPD may be unable to exhale. Alcohol and sedative medications need to be avoided. Active smoking, passive smoking (or secondhand smoke), and smoke that clings to hair and clothing (sometimes called "thirdhand" smoke) contribute to upper and lower respiratory problems, particularly for clients with COPD.

The nurse is teaching a client diagnosed with acute bacterial rhinosinusitis about supportive measures to increase client comfort. Which client statement would indicate a need for further teaching?

"I would run a dehumidifier in my bedroom at night while I'm sleeping." Supportive therapy for rhinosinusitis includes humidification; nasal irrigation with saline solution; application of hot, wet packs; increasing fluid intake to at least 2 liters (L) per day, unless contraindicated; sleeping with the head elevated; and avoiding irritating agents, such as cigarette smoke or other allergens. Therefore, options 1, 2, and 3 indicate the client understands the appropriate supportive measures for rhinosinusitis. Option 4 indicates a need for further teaching, as humidification of air, not dehumidification of air, assists with the discomfort of rhinosinusitis.

A client with a history of recent upper respiratory infection comes to the urgent care center complaining of chest pain. The nurse determines that the pain is most likely of a respiratory origin if the client makes which statement about the pain?

"It hurts more when I breathe in." Chest pain is assessed by using the standard pain assessment parameters, such as characteristics, location, intensity, duration, precipitating and alleviating factors, and associated symptoms. Pain of pleuropulmonary (respiratory) origin usually worsens on inspiration.

A registered nurse who is orienting a new nursing graduate to the hospital emergency department instructs the new graduate to monitor a client for one-sided chest movement on the right side while the client is being intubated by the primary health care provider (PHCP). Which statement made by the new nursing graduate indicates understanding of the importance of this observation?

"It will enter the right main bronchus if inserted too far." If the endotracheal tube is inserted too far into the client's trachea, the tube will enter the right main bronchus. This occurs because the right bronchus is shorter and wider than the left and extends downward in a more vertical plane. If the tube is not inserted far enough, no chest expansion at all will occur. The other options are incorrect.

The nurse is providing instructions to a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease about using an incentive spirometer. The nurse tells the client to sustain the inhaled breath for 3 seconds. What statement by the client indicates successful teaching?

"It will keep the small airways open." Sustained inhalation helps maintain inflation of terminal bronchioles and alveoli, thereby promoting better gas exchange. Routine use of devices such an incentive spirometer can help prevent atelectasis and pneumonia in clients at risk. The remaining options are not reasons for sustaining inflation.

The nurse is teaching a client with a recurrent history of rhinosinusitis about the condition. Which statement from the client indicates a need for further teaching?

"Rhinosinusitis is caused only by an infectious organism." Rhinosinusitis is inflammation of the mucous membranes of the sinuses. The etiology of rhinosinusitis can be infectious or noninfectious in nature. The most common cause of rhinosinusitis is viral infection, but bacterial infection can also cause this condition. The frontal and maxillary sinuses are more likely to be affected. Certain predisposing factors include conditions that impede sinus drainage, such as a deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps or masses, inhaled pollutants, allergies, intranasal illicit drug use, facial trauma, or dental infection. Seasonal allergies increase the risk of rhinosinusitis due to nasal mucosa edema impeding drainage of secretions. Therefore, since rhinosinusitis can occur due to a noninfectious etiology, option 2 is the client statement that requires a need for further teaching and is the correct answer.

A client is diagnosed with a rib fracture and asks the nurse why strapping of the ribs is not being done. Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

"That isn't done because people often would develop pneumonia from the constricting effect on the lungs." Strapping of the ribs has a constricting effect on the ribs and on deep breathing and can actually increase the risk of atelectasis and pneumonia. Therefore, options 1, 2, and 4 are incorrect.

The nurse is caring for a group of clients on the clinical nursing unit. The nurse interprets that which of these clients is at most risk for the development of pulmonary embolism?

A 73-year-old client who has just had pinning of a hip fracture Clients frequently at risk for pulmonary embolism include those who are immobilized. This is especially true in the immobilized postoperative client. Other causes include those with conditions that are characterized by hypercoagulability, endothelial disease, or advancing age.

The nurse working on a medical respiratory nursing unit is caring for several clients with respiratory disorders. The nurse would determine that which client on the nursing unit is at the lowest risk for infection with tuberculosis?

A person who is an inspector for the U.S. Postal Service Clients at high risk for acquiring tuberculosis include immigrants from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Oceania; medically underserved populations (ethnic minorities, homeless); those with human immunodeficiency virus infection or other immunosuppressive disorders; residents in group settings (long-term care, correctional facilities); and health care workers.

The nurse reads in the progress notes for a client with pneumonia that areas of the client's lungs are being perfused but are not being ventilated. How does the nurse correctly interpret this documentation?

A shunt unit exists. When there is no ventilation to an alveolar unit but perfusion continues, a shunt unit exists. As a result, no gas exchange occurs, and unoxgenated blood continues to circulate. Anatomical dead space normally is present in the conducting airways, where pulmonary capillaries are absent. Physiological dead space occurs with conditions such as emphysema and pulmonary embolism. Ventilation-perfusion matching refers to a matching distribution of blood flow in the pulmonary capillaries and air exchange in the alveolar units of the lungs.

The nurse is caring for a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who is dyspneic and has decreased breath sounds. The nurse would carry out which intervention to decrease the client's work of breathing?

Administer the prescribed bronchodilator. Administering the prescribed bronchodilator will help to decrease airway resistance, which decreases the work of breathing and would ease the client's dyspnea. The client needs to be placed in high-Fowler's position to maximize chest expansion. Clients with increased production of mucus have increased airway resistance, which increases the work of breathing. Thus, fluids would be increased to help liquefy secretions. Placing a continuous pulse oximeter will assist with monitoring the client's condition but will have no effect on the client's work of breathing.

The nurse is assessing a client complaining of fatigue and facial pain. Upon assessment, the nurse notes tenderness to percussion above the bilateral eyebrows and bilateral cheeks. The client also complains of facial pressure that is worse when bending forward; thick, greenish-yellow nasal discharge; sore throat; and fever at home. Which condition would the nurse suspect?

Bacterial rhinosinusitis The client's signs and symptoms are consistent with bacterial rhinosinusitis. Rhinosinusitis is characterized by pain with percussion over the frontal and maxillary sinuses, fever, sore throat, sinus pressure or pain that is exacerbated by bending forward, purulent nasal discharge or postnasal drip, fatigue, and ear pressure. Therefore, option 4 is correct. The assessment data collected by the nurse are not characteristic of laryngitis, pharyngitis, or a nasal polyp. However, a nasal polyp is a risk factor for the development of rhinosinusitis. Therefore, options 1, 2 and 3 are incorrect.

The nurse is caring for a client with emphysema who is receiving oxygen. The nurse assesses the oxygen flow rate and notes that the client is receiving 2 L/min. The client's Spo2 level is 86%. Based on this assessment, which action would the nurse take first?

Check the client's record to determine the client's baseline SpO2. The nurse would first assess the client for signs of respiratory compromise and would check the client's record to determine the client's baseline value. The nurse would not increase the client's oxygen flow and titrate until the level is 100%. Oxygen flow rates are determined based on the client's normal baseline and would be titrated to the lowest amount needed; usually between 88% and 92% for a client with obstructive lung disease. Therefore, option 1 is incorrect. A nonrebreather mask is not necessary at this point, and oxygen via nasal cannula would be attempted first; therefore, option 3 is incorrect. It may be necessary to call respiratory therapy for a breathing treatment; however, client assessment is done first, making option 4 incorrect.

The nurse who is participating in a client care conference with other members of the health care team is discussing the condition of a client with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The primary health care provider (PHCP) states that as a result of fluid in the alveoli, surfactant production is falling. What does the nurse anticipate as a physiological consequence?

Collapse of alveoli and decreased compliance Surfactant is a phospholipid produced in the lungs that decreases surface tension in the lungs. This prevents the alveoli from sticking together and collapsing at the end of exhalation. When alveoli collapse, the lungs become "stiff" because of decreased compliance. Common causes of decreased surfactant production are ARDS and atelectasis. The remaining options are incorrect.

The nurse is caring for a client who had tuberculin skin testing 48 hours ago on admission to the nursing unit. The nurse reads the test result as positive. Which action by the nurse has the highest priority?

Contact the primary health care provider (PHCP). The nurse who obtains a positive test reading would call the PHCP immediately. The PHCP will prescribe a chest x-ray study to determine whether the client has clinically active tuberculosis (TB) or old, healed lesions. A sputum culture would be obtained to confirm the diagnosis of active TB. The client can be placed on prophylactic TB precautions until a final diagnosis is made. Although the results of the test would be documented and the employee health service department would be notified, these are not the actions of highest priority among the options provided.

The nurse is teaching a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease about fundamental concepts of gas exchange. When asked for further details by the client, the nurse plans to explain that gas exchange occurs through which process?

Diffusion Gas exchange occurs by diffusion, which means that oxygen and carbon dioxide move across the alveolar-capillary membrane as a result of a pressure gradient. Osmosis is the process of movement according to a concentration gradient. Ionization refers to the process whereby a molecule gains or loses electrons. Active transport is movement of molecules by carrying them across a cell membrane.

The nurse is caring for a client on a mechanical ventilator. The low-pressure alarm sounds. The nurse suspects that the most likely cause of the alarm is which finding?

Disconnection of the ventilator tubing The low-pressure alarm sounds when little or no pressure is generated during the delivery of the machine breaths. Alarm triggers include disconnection of the ventilator tubing at any point in the circuit, a cuff leak, and exaggerated client respiratory effort generating extreme negative pressure. The remaining options identify causes for triggering the high-pressure alarm.

The nurse is assessing the functioning of a chest tube drainage system in a client who has just returned from the recovery room following a thoracotomy with wedge resection to remove a cancerous tumor. Which are the expected assessment findings? Select all that apply.

Drainage system maintained below the client's chest 50 mL of drainage in the drainage collection chamber Occlusive dressing in place over the chest tube insertion site Fluctuation of water in the tube in the water seal chamber during inhalation and exhalation The bubbling of water in the water seal chamber indicates air drainage from the client and usually is seen when intrathoracic pressure is higher than atmospheric pressure, and may occur during exhalation, coughing, or sneezing. Excessive bubbling in the water seal chamber may indicate an air leak, an unexpected finding. Fluctuation of water in the tube in the water seal chamber during inhalation and exhalation is expected. An absence of fluctuation may indicate that the chest tube is obstructed or that the lung has reexpanded and that no more air is leaking into the pleural space. Gentle (not vigorous) bubbling would be noted in the suction control chamber. A total of 50 mL of drainage is not excessive in a client returning to the nursing unit from the recovery room. Drainage that is more than 70 to 100 mL/hour is considered excessive and requires notification of the primary health care provider. The chest tube insertion site is covered with an occlusive (airtight) dressing to prevent air from entering the pleural space. Positioning the drainage system below the client's chest allows gravity to drain the pleural space.

A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is being evaluated for lung transplantation. The nurse performs the initial physical assessment. Which findings would the nurse anticipate in this client? Select all that apply.

Dyspnea at rest Clubbed fingers Muscle retractions Prolonged expiratory breathing phase The client with COPD who is eligible for a lung transplantation has end-stage COPD and will have clinical manifestations of hypoxemia, dyspnea at rest, use of accessory muscle with retractions, clubbing, and prolonged expiratory breathing phase caused by retention of carbon dioxide. Option 4 is incorrect because the client with COPD has an increased respiratory rate, not a decreased one. Option 5 is incorrect because an elevated temperature would not be present unless the client has an infection.

The clinic nurse is providing instructions to a client with a diagnosis of pharyngitis. The nurse plans to provide which instruction to the client?

Eat foods that are not seasoned or not spicy. Foods that are seasoned or spicy are irritating to the throat and need to be avoided. The client with pharyngitis needs to be instructed to consume cool clear fluids, ice chips, or ice pops to soothe the painful throat. Citrus products need to be avoided because they irritate the throat. Milk and milk products are avoided because they tend to increase mucus production. The client need to be instructed to eat bland foods and drink 2000 to 3000 mL of fluid daily unless contraindicated.

A client is on continuous mechanical ventilation (CMV) and the high-pressure alarm sounds. Which action would the nurse take to eliminate the problem?

Empty excess accumulated water from the ventilatory circuit tubing. High-pressure alarms can be triggered by increased airway resistance caused by excess secretions in the airway, biting the tube, coughing, bronchospasm, a kinked ventilatory circuit, or excess condensation of water in the ventilator tubing. Excess water needs to be emptied from the tubing. Alarms would never be silenced until the cause has been identified and corrected. In addition, this will not eliminate the problem. The low-pressure alarm would sound with a disconnection. Filling the cuff to 25 mm Hg can result in impaired circulation to the tracheal mucosa.

The nurse is assessing a client with multiple trauma who is at risk for developing acute respiratory distress syndrome. The nurse would assess for which earliest sign of acute respiratory distress syndrome?

Increased respiratory rate The earliest detectable sign of acute respiratory distress syndrome is an increased respiratory rate, which can begin from 1 to 96 hours after the initial insult to the body. This is followed by increasing dyspnea, air hunger, retraction of accessory muscles, and cyanosis. Breath sounds may be clear or consist of fine inspiratory crackles or diffuse coarse crackles.

The nurse is caring for a client with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). What would the nurse expect to note in the client?

Low arterial Pao2 The earliest clinical sign of ARDS is an increased respiratory rate. Breathing becomes labored, and the client may exhibit air hunger, retractions, and cyanosis. Arterial blood gas analysis reveals increasing hypoxemia, with a Pao2 lower than 60 mm Hg.

The nurse is reinforcing instructions to a client with pneumonia about the use of an incentive spirometer. The nurse tells the client to sustain the inhaled breath for 3 seconds. When the client asks the nurse about the rationale for this action, the nurse explains that which is the primary benefit?

Maintain inflation of the alveoli. Sustained inhalation when using an incentive spirometer helps maintain inflation of the terminal bronchioles and alveoli, thereby promoting better gas exchange. Routine use of devices such as an incentive spirometer can help prevent atelectasis and pneumonia in clients at risk. The remaining options are not benefits for sustained inhalation.

The nurse is instructing a client in diaphragmatic breathing. To reinforce the need for this technique, the nurse teaches the client that in normal respiration, which is an action of the diaphragm?

Moves downward and out as it contracts As the diaphragm contracts, it moves downward and out, becoming flatter and expanding the thoracic cage. This process occurs during the inspiratory phase of the respiratory cycle. Therefore, the remaining options are incorrect.

The nurse is reading a tuberculin skin test for a client with no documented health problems. The site has no induration and a 1-mm area of ecchymosis. How would the nurse interpret the result?

Negative A positive reading has an induration measuring 10 mm or larger and is considered abnormal. A small area of ecchymosis is insignificant and probably is related to injection technique. The remaining options are incorrect interpretations.

The nurse is assessing a client's tracheostomy and notes that the skin around the stoma appears swollen with no redness or drainage present. Which action would the nurse take next?

Palpate the skin around the stoma. A complication of a tracheostomy is subcutaneous emphysema, in which air leaks into the subcutaneous tissue due to a misplaced tracheostomy tube. An important nursing assessment for the client with a tracheostomy is to examine the neck for swelling and then to palpate the swollen area. If subcutaneous emphysema is present, the nurse will feel a popping or crackling sensation when pressing on the skin. The nurse would then contact the PHCP for further interventions after collecting more assessment data. Therefore, option 1 is correct. Option 2 is appropriate after further assessing the area. Options 3 and 4 are inappropriate interventions for subcutaneous emphysema.

A client with a chest injury has suffered flail chest. The nurse assesses the client for which most distinctive sign of flail chest?

Paradoxical chest movement Flail chest results from multiple rib fractures. This results in a "floating" section of ribs. Because this section is unattached to the rest of the bony rib cage, this segment results in paradoxical chest movement. This means that the force of inspiration pulls the fractured segment inward, while the rest of the chest expands. Similarly, during exhalation, the segment balloons outward while the rest of the chest moves inward. This is a characteristic sign of flail chest.

The nurse is assessing a client and notes unilateral swelling on the left side of the throat with deviation of the uvula toward the right side, halitosis, left-sided cervical lymphadenopathy, and fever. The client reports throat pain and difficulty swallowing. Which condition would the nurse suspect?

Peritonsillar abscess Peritonsillar abscess can occur due to acute tonsillitis when the infection spreads from the tonsil to the surrounding area, resulting in abscess formation. Signs and symptoms include unilateral swelling of the throat due to pus collection in the abscess, which causes the uvula to deviate to the unaffected side; lymphadenopathy on the affected side; halitosis (bad breath); fever; severe throat pain with radiation to the ear or teeth; difficulty swallowing or breathing; and tonic contraction of the chewing muscles. Therefore, option 4 is correct. Based on the client's signs and symptoms, the nurse would suspect peritonsillar abscess rather than laryngitis, pharyngitis, or rhinosinusitis. Options 1, 2, and 3 are incorrect.

A primary health care provider (PHCP) tells the nurse that a client's chest tube is to be removed since pneumothorax is resolved. The nurse would bring which dressing materials to the bedside for the PHCP's use?

Petrolatum gauze and sterile 4 × 4 gauze On removal of the chest tube, sterile petrolatum gauze and sterile 4 × 4 gauze is placed at the insertion site. The entire dressing is securely taped to make sure it is occlusive. The use of Telfa dressing, Neosporin ointment, hydrocolloid dressing, or benzoin spray is not indicated. Elastoplast tape may be used at the discretion of the PHCP as the tape of choice to make the dressing occlusive.

A client did not seek medical treatment for a previous respiratory infection, and subsequently an empyema developed in the left lung. The nurse would assess the client for which signs and symptoms associated with this problem?

Pleural pain and fever The client with empyema usually experiences dyspnea, increased respiratory rate, pleural pain, night sweats, fever, anorexia, and weight loss. There is a decrease in breath sounds over the affected area, a flat sound to percussion, and decreased tactile fremitus.

The nurse instructs a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to use the pursed-lip method of breathing and evaluates the teaching by asking the client about the purpose of this type of breathing. The nurse determines that the client understands if the client states that the primary purpose of pursed-lip breathing is to promote which outcome?

Promote carbon dioxide elimination. Pursed-lip breathing facilitates maximal expiration for clients with obstructive lung disease. This type of breathing allows better expiration by increasing airway pressure that keeps air passages open during exhalation. Options 1, 2, and 3 are not the purposes of this type of breathing.

The nurse is caring for a client with tuberculosis (TB) who is fearful of the disease and anxious about the prognosis. In planning nursing care, the nurse would incorporate which intervention as the best strategy to assist the client in coping with the illness?

Provide reassurance that continued compliance with medication therapy is the most proactive way to cope with the disease. A primary role of the nurse working with a client with TB is to teach the client about medication therapy. An anxious client may not absorb information optimally. The nurse continues to reinforce teaching using a variety of methods (repetition, teaching aids), and teaches the family about the medications as well. The most effective way of coping with the disease is to learn about the therapy that will eradicate it. This gives the client a measure of power over the situation and outcome. Allowing the client to deal with the disease in an individual fashion gives no active assistance to the client. Asking family members whether they wish a psychiatric consultation does not involve the client. Although visiting with the pastoral care department's chaplain may be helpful, it is not the best strategy among the options provided.

A client with an endotracheal tube who is being mechanically ventilated is visibly anxious. What is the best nursing action?

Provide reassurance to the client and give small doses of morphine sulfate intravenously as prescribed. Morphine sulfate often is prescribed for pain and anxiety in the client receiving mechanical ventilation. The nurse needs to speak to the client calmly and provide reassurance to the anxious client. Family members also are stressed, not just because of the complication but because of the original injury. It is not beneficial to ask the family to take on the burden of remaining with the client at all times. Succinylcholine is a neuromuscular blocker but has no antianxiety properties. Encouraging the client to sleep until arterial blood gas results improve does nothing to reassure or help the client.

The nurse is assisting a client with a tracheostomy turn in bed when the tube gets caught under the client, causing the tracheostomy tube to be pulled out. The nurse calls a rapid response team (RRT) and attempts to replace the tracheostomy tube with the same size tube as the tube that was pulled out and is unsuccessful. While waiting for the RRT, which action would the nurse take?

Reattempt the insertion with a tracheostomy tube that is one size smaller than the original tracheostomy tube. As part of the nursing care for a client with a tracheostomy, a tracheostomy kit with both a same-sized tube as the tube in place and a tube that is one size smaller than the tube in place, as well as an obturator and a curved Kelly clamp, needs to be kept at the bedside at all times in the event of accidental decannulation. During accidental decannulation and after asking for additional assistance, the nurse would insert an obturator into the same-sized tracheostomy tube and attempt to reinsert the tube into the stoma. If the nurse is unsuccessful, the nurse would attempt to perform the reinsertion procedure with a tracheostomy tube that is one size smaller than the original tube. Therefore, option 4 is correct. Option 1 would be an appropriate nursing assessment once the tracheostomy tube has been replaced to assess whether reinsertion has been successful and the client's airway is patent. Option 2 is incorrect because high Fowler's position, not low Fowler's position, is recommended for clients in respiratory distress. Option 3 is incorrect because manually ventilating the client with the stoma unoccluded would not ventilate the client, as the stoma would need to be occluded for the lungs to be ventilated.

The nurse is assessing a client with the typical clinical manifestations of tuberculosis (TB). During history-taking the nurse anticipates that the client will report presence of cough and fatigue for what period of time?

Several weeks to months The client with TB may report signs and symptoms that have been present for weeks or even months. These may include fatigue, lethargy, chest pain, anorexia and weight loss, night sweats, low-grade fever, and cough with mucoid or blood-streaked sputum. It may be the production of blood-tinged sputum that finally forces some clients to seek care.

The nurse is giving discharge instructions to a client with pulmonary sarcoidosis. The nurse concludes that the client understands the information if the client indicates to report which early sign of exacerbation?

Shortness of breath Dry cough and dyspnea are typical early manifestations of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Later manifestations include night sweats, fever, weight loss, and skin nodules.

The nurse is providing preoperative teaching to the client about the use of an incentive spirometer in the postoperative period. Which instructions would the nurse include? Select all that apply.

Sit upright in the bed or in a chair. Place the mouthpiece in your mouth and seal your lips tightly around it. After maximum inspiration, hold the breath for 2 to 3 seconds and exhale. For optimal lung expansion with an incentive spirometer, the client would assume a semi-Fowler's or high-Fowler's position while holding the incentive spirometer in an upright position. The mouthpiece needs to be covered completely with the lips while the client inhales slowly, with a constant flow through the unit. The breath needs to be held for 2 to 3 seconds before exhaling slowly.

The nurse is instructing a hospitalized client with a diagnosis of emphysema about measures that will enhance the effectiveness of breathing during dyspneic periods. Which position would the nurse instruct the client to assume?

Sitting up and leaning on an overbed table Positions that will assist the client with emphysema with breathing include sitting up and leaning on an overbed table, sitting up and resting the elbows on the knees, and standing and leaning against the wall.

A client who has undergone radical neck dissection for a tumor has a potential problem of obstruction related to postoperative edema, drainage, and secretions. To promote adequate respiratory function in this client, the nurse would implement which activities? Select all that apply.

Suctioning the client as needed Encouraging coughing every 2 hours Supporting the neck incision when the client coughs Monitoring the respiratory status frequently as prescribed The client's respiratory status is promoted by the use of high-Fowler's position after this surgery. Low-Fowler's position is avoided because it could result in increased venous pressure on the surgical site and increased risk of regurgitation and aspiration. It also is helpful to encourage the client to cough and deep-breathe every 2 hours, to support the neck incision when coughing, to suction periodically as needed, and to monitor the respiratory status frequently as prescribed.

A client who has been diagnosed with pleurisy tells the nurse that it is painful to inhale. The nurse responds that this is an expected finding because of which physical response to this disorder?

The inflamed pleurae cannot glide against each other as they normally do. Pleurisy is an inflammation of the visceral and parietal pleurae. The inflammation prevents the parietal and visceral pleural surfaces from gliding over each other with respiration. As a result, the client experiences pain, especially with inspiration. The remaining options are incorrect.

A client who is experiencing respiratory difficulty asks the nurse, "Why is it so much easier to breathe out than in?" In providing a response, the nurse explains that breathing is easier on exhalation because of which respiratory responses?

The respiratory muscles relax. Exhalation is less taxing for the client because it is a passive process in which the respiratory muscles relax. This allows air to flow upward out of the lungs. Air flows according to a pressure gradient from higher pressure to lower pressure. It does not flow by gravity or against a pressure gradient.

The nurse instructs a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on pursed-lip breathing and asks the client to demonstrate the breathing technique. Which observation by the nurse would indicate that the client is performing the technique correctly?

The client breathes out slowly through the mouth. Pursed-lip breathing facilitates maximal expiration for clients with obstructive lung disease. The client would close the mouth and breathe in through the nose. The client then purses the lips and breathes out slowly through the mouth, without puffing the cheeks. The client would spend at least twice the amount of time breathing out that it took to breathe in. The client needs to use the abdominal muscles to assist in squeezing out all of the air. The client also is instructed to use this technique during any physical activity—to inhale before beginning the activity and exhale while performing the activity. The client is also instructed to never hold the breath.

The nursing instructor is reviewing the various complications of a tracheostomy. The nursing instructor determines teaching has been effective if the nursing student correctly identifies which of the following conditions as tracheal dilation and cartilage erosion?

Tracheomalacia Several complications can arise from the creation of a tracheostomy related to increased cuff pressure or tube positioning that result in impaired tissue integrity. Some of these complications include tracheomalacia, tracheal stenosis, TEF, and trachea-innominate artery fistula. Tracheal stenosis describes narrowing of the tracheal lumen due to growth of scar tissue in response to tissue irritation from the cuff. TEF describes erosion of the posterior tracheal wall from continuous, excessive cuff pressure that creates an opening between the trachea and anterior esophagus. Trachea-innominate artery fistula is a medical emergency that results from lateral malplacement of the tracheostomy tube that causes pressure and subsequent necrosis and erosion of the innominate artery. Tracheomalacia is tracheal dilation and cartilage erosion from continuous cuff pressure. Therefore, option 1 is correct.

The nurse has assisted the primary health care provider and the anesthesiologist with placement of an endotracheal (ET) tube for a client in respiratory distress. What is the initial nursing action to evaluate proper ET tube placement?

Use an Ambu (resuscitation) bag to ventilate the client and assess for bilateral breath sounds. The nurse verifies the placement of an ET tube immediately by ventilating the client using an Ambu bag and by auscultating for breath sounds bilaterally, which ensures ventilation of both lungs. After this initial assessment, placement is checked radiographically. The nurse marks the ET tube at the point where it enters the nose or mouth for ongoing monitoring of correct placement, but this will not determine initial adequate placement of the ET tube. Noting the tidal volume and the client's toleration of the tidal volume prescribed is not a measure of appropriate ET tube placement.