Chapter 24: Assessment of the Respiratory System

ANS: A,B,C,D,E,F All questions are appropriate for the I PREPARE model of particulate matter exposure. The R and final E stands for resources/referrals and educate.

5. A nurse is assessing a client's history of particular matter exposure. What questions are consistent with the I PREPARE tool? (Select all that apply.) a. Investigate all history of known exposures. b. Determine if breathing problems are worse at work. c. Ask the client what type of heating is in the home. d. Gather details about the geographic location of the client's home. e. Have client list all previous jobs and work experiences. f. Assess what hobbies the client and family enjoy.

ANS: B Absent breath sounds may indicate that the client has a pneumothorax, a serious complication after a needle biopsy or open lung biopsy. The nurse would first obtain a pulse oximetry reading and perform other respiratory assessments. Temperature is not a priority. The nurse can ask about other symptoms while conducting the assessment. The nurse would assess the biopsy site and/or dressings, but this is not the first action.

5. A nurse is assessing a client who is recovering from a lung biopsy. The client's breath sounds are absent. While another nurse calls the Rapid Response Team, what action by the nurse takes is most important? a. Take a full set of vital signs. b. Obtain pulse oximetry reading. c. Ask the patient about hemoptysis. d. Inspect the biopsy site.

ANS: A Bronchial breath sounds, including harsh, hollow, tubular, and blowing sounds, are a normal finding over the trachea and larynx. The nurse would document this finding. There is no need to implement oxygen therapy, administer albuterol, or change the client's position because the finding is normal.

12. A nurse auscultates a harsh hollow sound over a client's trachea and larynx. What action would the nurse take first? a. Document the findings. b. Administer oxygen therapy. c. Position the client in high-Fowler position. d. Administer prescribed albuterol.

ANS: A,D Varenicline has a black box warning stating that the drug can cause manic behavior and hallucinations. The nurse would assess for changes in behavior and thought processes, including manic behaviors and visual hallucinations. Tachycardia, increased thirst, and orange-colored urine are not adverse effects of this medication. Decreased cravings are a therapeutic response to this medication.

1. A nurse assesses a client who is prescribed varenicline for smoking cessation. Which signs or symptoms would the nurse identify as adverse effects of this medication? (Select all that apply.) a. Visual hallucinations b. Tachycardia c. Decreased cravings d. Manic behavior e. Increased thirst f. Orangish urine

ANS: C Smoking assessments and cessation information can be an uncomfortable and sensitive topic among both clients and health care providers. The nurse would maintain a nonjudgmental attitude in order to foster trust with the client. Telling the client he or she needs to quit smoking is paternalistic and threatening. Assessing exposure to smoke includes more than tobacco and marijuana. The nurse would avoid giving the client false hope but when taking a history, it is most important to get accurate information.

1. A nurse obtains the health history of a client who is recently diagnosed with lung cancer and identifies that the client has a 60-pack-year smoking history. Which action is most important for the nurse to take when interviewing this client? a. Tell the client that he or she needs to quit smoking to stop further cancer development. b. Encourage the client to be completely honest about both tobacco and marijuana use. c. Maintain a nonjudgmental attitude to avoid causing the client to feel guilty. d. Avoid giving the client false hope regarding cancer treatment and prognosis.

ANS: C Clients who smoke while using drugs for nicotine replacement therapy increase the risk of stroke and heart attack. Nurses would teach clients not to smoke while taking these drugs. The nurse would encourage the client to make a list of reasons for stopping the habit but would not phrase it so judgmentally. Orthostatic hypotension is not a risk with nicotine replacement therapy. Stopping suddenly does not increase the risk of heart attack.

10. A nurse teaches a client who is prescribed nicotine replacement therapy. Which statement would the nurse include in this client's teaching? a. "Make a list of reasons why smoking is a bad habit." b. "Rise slowly when getting out of bed in the morning." c. "Smoking while taking this medication will increase your risk of a stroke." d. "Stopping this medication suddenly increases your risk for a heart attack."

ANS: B Cyanosis unresponsive to oxygen therapy is a sign of methemoglobinemia, which is an adverse effect of benzocaine spray. This condition can lead to death. The nurse would notify the Rapid Response Team to provide advanced care. An albuterol treatment would not address the client's oxygenation problem. Assessment of pulses and cultures will not provide data necessary to treat the client.

11. A nurse is caring for a client who received benzocaine spray prior to a recent bronchoscopy. The client presents with continuous cyanosis even with oxygen therapy. What action would the nurse take next? a. Administer an albuterol treatment. b. Notify the Rapid Response Team. c. Assess the client's peripheral pulses. d. Obtain blood and sputum cultures.

ANS: C A potentially serious complication after biopsy is pneumothorax, which is indicated by decreased or absent breath sounds. The primary health care provider needs to be notified immediately. Dizziness without other data would not lead the nurse to call the RRT. If the client's heart rate is 55 beats/min, no reason is known to withhold pain medication. A respiratory rate of 18 breaths/min is a normal finding and would not warrant changing the oxygen flow rate.

2. A nurse assesses a client after an open lung biopsy. Which assessment finding is matched with the correct intervention? a. Client reports being dizzy—nurse calls the Rapid Response Team. b. Client's heart rate is 55 beats/min—nurse withholds pain medication. c. Client has reduced breath sounds—nurse calls primary health care provider immediately. d. Client's respiratory rate is 18 breaths/min—nurse decreases oxygen flow rate.

ANS: A,B,D,E Nurses would assess clients who have allergies for the specific cause, treatment, and response to treatment. The nurse would also document the allergies in a prominent place in the client's medical record. Asking about the last time the client ate avocados does not provide any pertinent information for the client's plan of care. Asking how a client manages to avoid environmental allergies in this fashion also does not provide any pertinent information.

2. While obtaining a client's health history, the client states, "I am allergic to avocados, molds, and grass." Which responses by the nurse are best? (Select all that apply.) a. "What happens when you are exposed to those things? b. "How do you treat these allergies?" c. "When was the last time you ate foods containing avocados?" d. "I will document this in your record so all so everyone knows." e. "Have you ever been in the hospital after an allergic response?" f. "How do manage to avoid grass and mold?"

ANS: D Many respiratory problems occur as a result of chronic exposure to inhalation irritants used in a client's occupation and hobbies. Although it will be important for the nurse to assess the client's fluid intake, height, and weight, these will not be as important as determining his occupation and hobbies. This is part of the I-PREPARE assessment model for particulate matter exposure. Determining the client's neck circumference will not be an important part of a respiratory assessment.

3. A nurse assesses a client's respiratory status. Which information is most important for the nurse to obtain? a. Average daily fluid intake. b. Neck circumference. c. Height and weight. d. Occupation and hobbies.

ANS: A,D,E To ensure that the PFTs are accurate, the therapist needs to know that no bronchodilators have been administered in the past 4 to 6 hours (depending on the suspected cause), the client did not smoke within 6 to 8 hours prior to the test, and the client can follow basic commands, including different breathing maneuvers. The respiratory therapist can perform PFTs at the bedside or the respiratory lab. A treadmill is not used for this test.

3. A nurse collaborates with a respiratory therapist to complete pulmonary function tests (PFTs) for a client. Which statements would the nurse include in communications with the respiratory therapist prior to the tests? (Select all that apply.) a. "I held the client's morning bronchodilator medication." b. "The client is ready to go down to radiology for this examination." c. "Physical therapy states the client can run on a treadmill." d. "I advised the client not to smoke for 6 hours prior to the test." e. "The client is alert and can follow your commands."

ANS: B The normal chest has an anteroposterior (AP or front-to-back) diameter ratio with the lateral (side-to-side) diameter. This ratio normally is about 1:1.5. When the AP diameter approaches the lateral diameter, and the ratio is 1:1, the client is said to have a barrel chest. Most commonly, barrel chest occurs as a result of a long-term chronic airflow limitation problem, such as chronic emphysema. Medications, herbal supplements, and aerobic exercise are not associated with a barrel chest. Although occupation and hobbies may expose a client to irritants that can cause chronic lung disorders and barrel chest, asking about chronic breathing problems is more direct and would be asked first.

4. A nurse observes that a client's anteroposterior (AP) chest diameter is the same as the lateral chest diameter. Which question would the nurse ask the client in response to this finding? a. "Are you taking any medications or herbal supplements?" b. "Do you have any chronic breathing problems?" c. "How often do you perform aerobic exercise?" d. "What is your occupation and what are your hobbies?"

ANS: A,D,E,F The nurse would teach a client who is interested in smoking cessation to find an activity that keeps the hands busy, to keep healthy snacks on hand to nibble on, to drink at least eight glasses of water each day, to make a list of reasons for quitting smoking, and to set a firm quit date and stick to it. The nurse would also encourage the client not to be upset if he or she backslides and has a cigarette but to try to determine what conditions caused him or her to smoke.

4. A nurse teaches a client who is interested in smoking cessation. Which statements would the nurse include in this client's teaching? (Select all that apply.) a. "Find an activity that you enjoy and will keep your hands busy." b. "Keep snacks like potato chips on hand to nibble on." c. "Identify a consequence for yourself in case you backslide." d. "Drink at least eight glasses of water each day." e. "Make a list of reasons you want to stop smoking." f. "Set a quit date and stick to it."

ANS: B,D,E Symptoms of a pneumothorax include tachycardia, tachypnea, new-onset "nagging" cough, and pain that is worse at the end of inhalation and the end of exhalation on the affected side. Additional symptoms include trachea slanted to the unaffected side, cyanosis, and the affected side of the chest that does not move in and out with respirations. Purulent sputum is a symptom of infection.

6. A nurse assesses a client who is recovering from a thoracentesis. Which assessment findings would alert the nurse to a potential pneumothorax? (Select all that apply.) a. Bradycardia b. New-onset cough c. Purulent sputum d. Tachypnea e. Pain with respirations f. Rapid, shallow respirations

ANS: D A thoracentesis is an invasive procedure with many potentially serious complications. The nurse would ensure signed informed consent has been obtained. Verifying that the client understands complications and explaining the procedure to be performed will be done by the primary health care provider, not the nurse. Measurement of oxygen saturation before and after a 12-minute walk is not a procedure unique to a thoracentesis.

6. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled to undergo a thoracentesis. Which intervention would the nurse complete prior to the procedure? a. Measure oxygen saturation before and after a 12-minute walk. b. Verify that the client understands all possible complications. c. Explain the procedure in detail to the client and the family. d. Validate that informed consent has been given by the client.

ANS: D A shift of central thoracic structures toward one side is a sign of a tension pneumothorax, which is a medical emergency. The other findings are normal or near normal. The nurse would report this finding immediately or call the Rapid Response Team.

7. A nurse assesses a client after a thoracentesis. Which assessment finding warrants immediate action? a. The client rates pain as a 5/10 at the site of the procedure. b. A small amount of drainage from th e site is noted. c. Pulse oximetry is 93% on 2L of oxygen d. The trachea is shifted toward the opposite side of the neck.

ANS: B,C,D,F Prior to a bronchoscopy, the nurse would verify that the informed consent was obtained, keep the client NPO for 4 to 8 hours prior to the procedure or per agency policy to prevent aspiration, document allergies, and review laboratory results including complete blood count and bleeding times. There is no reason to hold the client's bronchodilator prior to this procedure. The nurse will monitor the client at least every 4 hours for 24 hours.

7. A nurse prepares a client who is scheduled for a bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsy procedure at 9:00 AM (0900). What actions would the nurse take? (Select all that apply.) a. Provide a clear liquid breakfast. b. Verify that the informed consent was obtained. c. Document the client's allergies. d. Review laboratory results. e. Hold the client's bronchodilator. f. Monitor the client for at least 24 hours afterwards.

ANS: C The topical anesthetic used during the procedure will have affected the client's gag reflex. Before allowing the client anything to eat or drink, the nurse must check for the return of this reflex.

8. A nurse cares for a client who had a bronchoscopy 2 hours ago. The client asks for a drink of water. What action would the nurse take next? a. Call the primary health care provider and request food and water for the client. b. Provide the client with ice chips instead of a drink of water. c. Assess the client's gag reflex before giving any food or water. d. Let the client have a small sip to see whether he or she can swallow.

ANS: A A client with dyspnea and the inability to complete activities such as climbing a flight of stairs without pausing has class IV dyspnea. The nurse would provide assistance with activities of daily living. These clients would be encouraged to participate in activities as tolerated. They would not be on complete bedrest, may not be able to tolerate daily physical therapy, and only need oxygen if hypoxia is present.

9. A nurse plans care for a client who is experiencing dyspnea and must stop multiple times when climbing a flight of stairs. Which intervention would the nurse include in this client's plan of care? a. Assistance with activities of daily living b. Physical therapy activities every day c. Oxygen therapy at 2 L per nasal cannula d. Complete bedrest with frequent repositioning