Chapter 39: Management of Patients with Oral and Esophageal Disorders

The primary source of microorganisms for catheter-related infections are the skin and which of the following?

Catheter hub

A client's new onset of dysphagia has required insertion of a nasogastric (NG) tube for feeding. What intervention should the nurse include in the client's plan of care?

Confirm placement of the tube prior to each medication administration.

The healthcare provider of a client with oral cancer has ordered the placement of a GI tube to provide nutrition and to deliver medications. What would be the preferred route?

nasogastric intubation

A client who has occasional gastric symptoms is receiving teaching on how to prevent gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Which statement indicates the client understands the teaching?

"I will eliminate bothersome foods from my diet."

A nurse is caring for a patient with a Salem sump gastric tube attached to low intermittent suction for decompression. The patient asks, "What's this blue part of the tube for?" Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?

"It is a vent that prevents backflow of the secretions."

The nurse is conducting a health instruction program on oral cancer. The nurse determines that the participants understand the instructions when they state

"Many oral cancers produce no symptoms in the early stages."

The client has the intake and output shown in the accompanying chart for an 8-hour shift. What is the positive fluid balance?

260 ml

The nurse inserts a nasogastric tube into the right nares of a patient. When testing the tube aspirate for pH to confirm placement, what does the nurse anticipate the pH will be if placement is in the lungs?

6

A client is recovering from a neck dissection. What volume of serosanguineous secretions would the nurse expect to drain over the first 24 hours?

80 to 120 mL

When assessing a client during a routine checkup, the nurse reviews the history and notes that the client had aphthous stomatitis at the time of the last visit. How is aphthous stomatitis best described by the nurse?

A canker sore of the oral soft tissues

If a client's central venous catheter accidentally becomes disconnected, what should a nurse do first?

Clamp the catheter.

While stripping wax from surfboards, a client accidentally ingested a refrigerated strong base cleaning solution, thinking it was water. What interventions would the nurse anticipate including in this client's care plan? Select all that apply.

Administer medication for report of pain. Insert an intravenous (IV) catheter for administration of IV fluids. Maintain nothing by mouth status. Assess respiratory status every 4 hours and prn.

A client is recovering from percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement. The nurse

Administers an initial bolus of 50 mL water

The nurse is inserting a nasogastric tube for a patient with pancreatitis. What intervention can the nurse provide to allow facilitation of the tube insertion?

Allow the patient to sip water as the tube is being inserted.

A client who had a hemiglossectomy earlier in the day is assessed postoperatively, revealing a patent airway, stable vital signs, and no bleeding or drainage from the operative site. The nurse notes the client is alert. What is the client's priority need at this time?

An effective means of communicating with the nurse

While caring for a patient who has had radical neck surgery, the nurse notices an abnormal amount of serosanguineous secretions in the wound suction unit during the first postoperative day. What does the nurse know is an expected amount of drainage in the wound unit?

Approximately 80 to 120 mL

A client is postoperative following a graft reconstruction of the neck. What intervention is the most important for the nurse to complete with the client?

Assess the graft for color and temperature.

A nonresponsive client has a nasogastric tube to low intermittent suction due to gastrointestinal bleeding. It is most important for the nurse to

Auscultate lung sounds every 4 hours.

The nurse is creating a plan of care for a client who is not able to tolerate brushing his teeth. The nurse includes which mouth irrigation in the plan of care?

Baking soda and water

A nurse is preparing to assist a health care provider with a peripherally inserted central catheter. The nurse demonstrates understanding of this procedure by preparing which insertion site?

Basilic vein

The nurse is caring for a client with a history of bulimia. The client complains of retrosternal pain and dysphagia after forcibly causing herself to vomit after a large meal. The nurse suspects which condition?

Boerhaave syndrome

A client has been receiving radiation therapy to the lungs and now has erythema, edema, and pain of the mouth. What instruction will the nurse give to the client?

Brush and floss daily.

A nurse administered a full strength feeding with an increased osmolality through a jejunostomy tube to a client. Immediately following the feeding, the client expelled a large amount of liquid brown stool and exhibited a blood pressure of 86/58 and pulse rate of 112 beats/min. The nurse

Consults with the physician about decreasing the feeding to half-strength

A client with a gastrojejunostomy is beginning to take solid food. Which finding would lead the nurse to suspect that the client is experiencing dumping syndrome?

Diarrhea

A client receiving tube feedings to the duodenum develops nausea, cramping, and diarrhea. For which condition should the nurse plan care for this client?

Dumping syndrome

The nurse is obtaining a history on a patient who comes to the clinic. What symptom described by the patient is one of the first symptoms associated with esophageal disease?

Dysphagia

Cancer of the esophagus is most often diagnosed by which of the following?

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with biopsy and brushings

A patient is receiving nasogastric tube feedings. The intake and output record for the past 24 hours reveals an intake of 3100 mL and an output of 2400 mL. The nurse identifies which nursing diagnosis as most likely?

Excess fluid volume

An elderly client states, "I don't understand why I have so many caries in my teeth." What assessment made by the nurse places the client at risk for dental caries?

Exhibiting hemoglobin A1C 8.2

The nurse assesses a patient who recently had a nasoenteric intubation. Symptoms of oliguria, lethargy, and tachycardia in the patient would indicate to the nurse what common complication?

Fluid volume deficit

Postoperatively, a client with a radical neck dissection should be placed in which position?

Fowler

A client with a diagnosis of late-stage Alzheimer disease has begun supplemental feedings through a nasogastric (NG) tube. Which of the nurse's assessments addresses this client's most significant potential complication of feeding?

Frequent lung auscultation

A client has a new order for metoclopramide. The nurse identifies that this medication can be safely administered for which condition?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

A patient describes a burning sensation in the esophagus, pain when swallowing, and frequent indigestion. What does the nurse suspect that these clinical manifestations indicate?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

The nurse is caring for a comatose patient and administering gastrostomy feedings. What does the nurse understand is the reason that gastrostomy feedings are preferred to nasogastric (NG) feedings in the comatose patient?

Gastroesophageal sphincter is intact, lessening the possibility of regurgitation.

A client has a gastrointestinal tube that enters the stomach through a surgically created opening in the abdominal wall. The nurse documents this as which of the following?

Gastrostomy tube

A client with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) comes to the clinic and is experiencing white patches on the lateral border of the tongue. What type of lesions does the nurse document?

Hairy leukoplakia

A patient is receiving parenteral nutrition. The current solution is nearing completion, and a new solution is to be hung, but it has not arrived from the pharmacy. Which action by the nurse would be most appropriate?

Hang a solution of dextrose 10% and water until the new solution is available.

A client is being evaluated for esophageal cancer. What initial manifestation of esophageal cancer should the nurse assess?

Increasing difficulty in swallowing

The nurse is managing a gastric (Salem) sump tube for a patient who has an intestinal obstruction and will be going to surgery. What interventions should the nurse perform to make sure the tube is functioning properly?

Keep the vent lumen above the patient's waist to prevent gastric content reflux.

The health care provider orders the insertion of a single lumen nasogastric tube. When gathering the equipment for the insertion, what will the nurse select?

Levin tube

A client who reports increasing difficulty swallowing, weight loss, and fatigue is diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Because this client has difficulty swallowing, what should the nurse assign highest priority to?

Maintaining a patent airway

A client with cancer has a neck dissection and laryngectomy. An intervention that the nurse will do is:

Make a notation on the call light system that the client cannot speak.

A nurse is preparing to perform a dressing change to the site of a client's central venous catheter used for parenteral nutrition. Which equipment and supplies would the nurse need to gather? Select all that apply.

Masks Skin antiseptic Alcohol wipes Sterile gauze pads

A client is receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) through a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) and will be discharged home with PN. The home health nurse evaluates the home setting and would make a recommendation when noticing which circumstance?

No land line; cell phone available and taken by family member during working hours

The nurse working in the recovery room is caring for a client who had a radical neck dissection. The nurse notices that the client makes a coarse, high-pitched sound upon inspiration. Which intervention by the nurse is appropriate?

Notify the physician

A client recovering from gastric bypass surgery accidentally removes the nasogastric tube. What is the best action by the nurse?

Notify the surgeon about the tube's removal.

A client has been taking a 10-day course of antibiotics for pneumonia. The client has been having white patches that look like milk curds in the mouth. What treatment will the nurse educate the client about?

Nystatin

An elderly client comes into the emergency department reporting an earache. The client and has an oral temperature of 37.9° (100.2ºF) and otoscopic assessment of the ear reveals a pearly gray tympanic membrane with no evidence of discharge or inflammation. Which action should the triage nurse take next?

Palpate the client's parotid glands to detect swelling and tenderness.

A patient reports an inflamed salivary gland below the right ear. The nurse documents probable inflammation of which gland?

Parotid

The nurse is caring for a client who has a gastrostomy tube feeding. Upon initiating care, the nurse aspirates the gastrotomy tube for gastric residual volume (GRV) and obtains 200 mL of gastric contents. What is the priority action by the nurse?

Place the client in a semi-Fowler's position with the head of the bed at 45 degrees.

A nursing educator reviewing the care of clients with feeding and endotracheal tubes (ET) emphasizes the need to check for tube placement in the stomach as well as residual volume. What is the main purpose of this nursing action?

Prevent aspiration

A patient has been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia. The nurse explains the diagnosis to the patient and his family by telling them that a hernia is a (an):

Protrusion of the upper stomach into the lower portion of the thorax.

A nurse is caring for a client with a nasogastric tube for feeding. During shift assessment, the nurse auscultates a new onset of bilateral lung crackles and notes a respiratory rate of 30 breaths per minute. The client's oxygen saturation is 89% by pulse oximetry. After ensuring the client's immediate safety, what is the nurse's most appropriate action?

Report possible signs of aspiration pneumonia to the primary provider.

A client with cancer of the tongue has had a radical neck dissection. What nursing assessment should the nurse prioritize?

Respiratory status and airway clearance

The nurse notes that a client has inflammation of the salivary glands. The nurse documents which finding?

Sialadenitis

Which term describes an inflammation of the salivary glands?

Sialadenitis

A nurse is assessing a client with a family history of cancer. Which finding requires immediate follow-up?

The client states he feels like he always has a lump in his throat.

A client has a new order for metoclopramide. What extrapyramidal side effect should the nurse assess for in the client?

Uncontrolled rhythmic movements of the face or limbs

Cardiac complications, which may occur following resection of an esophageal tumor, are associated with irritation of which nerve at the time of surgery?

Vagus

The nurse checks residual content before each intermittent tube feeding. When should the patient be reassessed?

When the residual is greater than 200 mL

A graduate nurse is cleaning a central venous access device (CVAD) and is being evaluated by the preceptor nurse. The preceptor nurse makes a recommendation for relearning the skill when she notes the graduate nurse does the following action:

Wipes catheter ports from distal end to insertion site

Which of the following is the most common type of diverticulum?

Zenker's diverticulum

The client is experiencing swallowing difficulties and is now scheduled to receive a gastric feeding. The client has the following oral medications prescribed: furosemide, digoxin, enteric coated aspirin, and vitamin E. The nurse would withhold which medication?

enteric coated aspirin

The nurse provides health teaching to inform the client with oral cancer that

many oral cancers produce no symptoms in the early stages.

The school nurse is planning a health fair for a group elementary school students and dental health is one topic that the nurse plans to address. When teaching the children about the risk of tooth decay, the nurse should caution them against consuming large quantities of

organic fruit juice.