Week 1 Respiratory Med surge
A patient presents to the ED stating she was in a boating accident about 3 hours ago. Now the patient has complaints of headache, fatigue, and the feeling that he "just can't breathe enough.
" The nurse notes that the patient is restless and tachycardic with an elevated blood pressure This patient may be in the early stages of what respiratory problem? Acute respiratory failure
A patient's severe asthma has necessitated the use of a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA). Which of the patient's statements suggests a need for further education?
"I'll make sure to use this each time I feel an asthma attack coming on."
The nurse is assessing a patient who has a 35 pack-year history of cigarette smoking. In light of this known risk factor for lung cancer, what statement should prompt the nurse to refer the patient for further assessment?
"Lately, I have this cough that just never seems to go away."The most frequent symptom of lung cancer is cough or change in a chronic cough.
A new employee asks the occupational health nurse about measures to prevent inhalation exposure of the substances. Which statement by the nurse will decrease the patient's exposure risk to toxic substances?
"Wear protective attire and devices when working with a toxic substance."When working with toxic substances, the employee must wear or use protective devices such as face masks, hoods, or industrial respirators
Key aspects of any assessment of patients with a potential occupational respiratory history include job and job activities, exposure levels, general hygiene, time frame of exposure, effectiveness of respiratory protection used, and direct versus indirect exposures.
A 54-year-old man has just been diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. The patient asks the nurse why the doctor is not offering surgery as a treatment for his cancer.
What parameters of care should the nurse monitor most closely? Select all that apply. Arterial blood gases Vital signs Level of consciousness
A gerontologic nurse is teaching a group of medical nurses about the high incidence and mortality of pneumonia in older adults. What is a contributing factor to this that the nurse should describe?
A nurse is caring for a young adult patient whose medical history includes an alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency. This deficiency predisposes the patient to what health problem? Lobular emphysema
A host risk factor for COPD is a deficiency of alpha1-antitrypsin, an enzyme inhibitor that protects the lung parenchyma from injury.
The home care nurse is assessing the home environment of a patient who will be discharged from the hospital shortly after his laryngectomy. The nurse should inform the patient that he may need to arrange for the installation of which system in his home?
A humidification system
Highest airflow during a forced expiration.Peak flow meters measure the highest airflow during a forced expiration.
A nurse is admitting a new patient who has been admitted with a diagnosis of COPD exacerbation. How can the nurse best help the patient achieve the goal of maintaining effective oxygenation?
An older adult patient has been diagnosed with COPD. What characteristic of the patient's current health status would preclude the safe and effective use of a metered dose inhaler ?The patient has severe arthritis in her hands.
A nurse is preparing to perform an admission assessment on a patient with COPD. It is most important for the nurse to review which of the following?
In addition to irritating the mucous cells of the bronchi and inhibiting the function of alveolar macrophage scavenger cells, smoking damages the ciliary cleansing
A patient has been brought to the ED by the paramedics. The patient is suspected of having ARDS. What intervention should the nurse first anticipate?Preparing to assist with intubating the patient
Restoration of adequate gas exchange
A patient is brought to the ED by ambulance after a motor vehicle accident in which the patient received blunt trauma to the chest. The patient is in acute respiratory failure, is intubated, and is transferred to the ICU.
Surgical resection is the preferred method of treating patients with localized non-small cell tumors with no evidence of metastatic spread and adequate cardiopulmonary function
A patient is receiving thrombolytic therapy for the treatment of pulmonary emboli. What is the best way for the nurse to assess the patient's oxygenation status at the bedside?Monitor pulse oximetry readings.
What fact about lung cancer treatment should inform the nurse's response?Small cell cancer of the lung grows rapidly and metastasizes early and extensively.
A patient who involved in a workplace accident suffered a penetrating wound of the chest that led to acute respiratory failure. What goal of treatment should the care team prioritize when planning this patient's care?
Gene mutations affect transport of chloride ions, leading to CF, which is characterized by thick, viscous secretions in the lungs, pancreas, liver, intestine, and reproductive tract as well as increased salt content in sweat secretions
A school nurse is caring for a 10-year-old girl who is having an asthma attack. What is the preferred intervention to alleviate this client's airflow obstruction?
A perioperative nurse is caring for a postop patient. The patient has a shallow respiratory pattern and is reluctant to cough or to begin mobilizing. The nurse should address the patient's increased risk for what complication?
A shallow, monotonous respiratory pattern coupled with immobility places the patient at an increased risk of developing atelectasis.
The public health nurse is administering Mantoux tests to children who are being registered for kindergarten in the community. How should the nurse administer this test?
Administer intradermal injections into the children's inner forearms.The PPD is always injected into the intradermal layer of the inner aspect of the forearm.
A hospital has been the site of an increased incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). What is an important measure for the prevention of HAP?
Administration of pneumococcal vaccine to vulnerable individuals
A nurse is assessing a patient who is suspected of having bronchiectasis. The nurse should consider which of the following potential causes? Select all that apply.
Airway obstruction,Pulmonary infections,Genetic disorders
Available diagnostic tests In addition to the patient's history, the nurse reviews the results of available diagnostic tests
An admitting nurse is assessing a patient with COPD. The nurse auscultates diminished breath sounds, which signify changes in the airway. These changes indicate to the nurse to monitor the patient for what?Dyspnea and hypoxemia
Educating patients about recognizing and avoiding asthma triggers
An asthma educator is teaching a patient newly diagnosed with asthma and her family about the use of a peak flow meter. The educator should teach the patient that a peak flow meter measures what value?
Prednisone is used for a short-term (3-10 days) "burst" to gain prompt control of inadequately controlled, persistent asthma
An asthma nurse educator is working with a group of adolescent asthma patients. What intervention is most likely to prevent asthma exacerbations among these patients?
A nurse is caring for a patient who has been hospitalized with an acute asthma exacerbation. What drugs should the nurse expect to be ordered for this patient to gain underlying control of persistent asthma?
Anti-inflammatory drugs.Because the underlying pathology of asthma is inflammation, control of persistent asthma is accomplished primarily with regular use of anti-inflammatory medications.
An interdisciplinary team is planning the care of a patient with bronchiectasis. What aspects of care should the nurse anticipate? Select all that apply.
Antimicrobial therapy,Chest physiotherapy Smoking cessation
When assessing for substances that are known to harm workers' lungs, the occupational health nurse should assess their potential exposure to which of the following?
Asbestos Asbestos is among the more common causes of pneumoconiosis
The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving oxygen therapy for pneumonia. How should the nurse best assess whether the patient is hypoxemic?
Assess the patient's oxygen saturation level.
Administer an inhaled beta-adrenergic agonist
Asthma exacerbations are best managed by early treatment and education of the patient. Quick-acting beta-adrenergic medications are the first used for prompt relief of airflow obstruction.
While planning a patient's care, the nurse identifies nursing actions to minimize the patient's pleuritic pain. Which intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care?
Avoid actions that will cause the patient to breathe deeply. The key characteristic of pleuritic pain is its relationship to respiratory movement. Taking a deep breath, coughing, or sneezing worsens the pain
A nurse is completing a focused respiratory assessment of a child with asthma. What assessment finding is most closely associated with the characteristic signs and symptoms of asthma?
Bilateral wheezes The three most common symptoms of asthma are cough, dyspnea, and wheezing
A nurse is documenting the results of assessment of a patient with bronchiectasis. What would the nurse most likely include in documentation?Clubbing of the fingers
Characteristic symptoms of bronchiectasis include chronic cough and production of purulent sputum in copious amounts. Clubbing of the fingers also is common because of respiratory insufficiency
A nurse is working with a child who is undergoing a diagnostic workup for suspected asthma. What are the signs and symptoms that are consistent with a diagnosis of asthma? Select all that apply.
Chest tightness,Wheezing,Cough,Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that causes airway hyperresponsiveness, mucosal edema, and mucus production.
nurse is caring for a patient who has been admitted with an exacerbation of chronic bronchiectasis. nurse should expect to assess the patient for which of the following clinical manifestations?Copious sputum production
Clinical manifestations of bronchiectasis include hemoptysis, chronic cough, copious purulent sputum, and clubbing of the fingers.
A pediatric nurse practitioner is caring for a child who has just been diagnosed with asthma. The nurse has provided the parents with information that includes potential causative agents for an asthmatic reaction. What potential causative agent should the nurse describe?Pets
Common causative agents that may trigger an asthma attack are as follows: dust, dust mites, pets, soap, certain foods, molds, and pollens
A nurse is creating a health promotion intervention focused on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). What should the nurse identify as a complication of COPD? Respiratory failure
Complications of COPD include respiratory failure, pneumothorax, atelectasis, pneumonia, and pulmonary hypertension (corpulmonale).
A nurse is teaching a patient with asthma about Azmacort, an inhaled corticosteroid. Which adverse effects should the nurse be sure to address in patient teaching?
Cough and oral thrush.Azmacort has possible adverse effects of cough, dysphonia, oral thrush candidiasis, and headache.
A student nurse is preparing to care for a patient with bronchiectasis. The student nurse should recognize that this patient is likely to experience respiratory difficulties related to what pathophysiologic process?
Dilation of bronchi and bronchioles Bronchiectasis is a chronic, irreversible dilation of the bronchi and bronchioles that results from destruction of muscles and elastic connective tissue.
The patient complains of shortness of breath and becomes tachypneic. The nurse suspects a pneumothorax has developed. Further assessment findings supporting the presence of a pneumothorax include what?
Diminished or absent breath sounds on the affected side In the case of a simple pneumothorax, auscultating the breath sounds will reveal absent or diminished breath sounds on the affected side
The perioperative nurse is writing a care plan for a patient who has returned from surgery 2 hours prior. Which measure should the nurse implement to most decrease the patient's risk of developing pulmonary emboli
Early ambulation For patients at risk for PE, the most effective approach for prevention is to prevent deep vein thrombosis.
A nurse is evaluating the diagnostic study data of a patient with suspected cystic fibrosis (CF). Which of the following test results is associated with a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis?
Elevated sweat chloride concentration
The nurse is creating a plan of car for a patient diagnosed with acute laryngitis. What intervention should be included in the patient's plan of care?
Encourage the patient to limit speech whenever possible.
A nurse is developing the teaching portion of a care plan for a patient with COPD. What would be the most important component for the nurse to emphasize?Chronic inhalation of indoor toxins can cause lung damage.
Environmental risk factors for COPD include prolonged and intense exposure to occupational dusts and chemicals, indoor air pollution, and outdoor air pollution.
The ED nurse is assessing a young gymnast who fell from a balance beam. The gymnast presents with a clear fluid leaking from her nose. What should the ED nurse suspect?
Fracture of the cribriform plate Clear fluid from either nostril suggests a fracture of the cribriform plate with leakage of cerebrospinal fluid.
The nurse is providing patient teaching to a young mother who has brought her 3-month-old infant to the clinic for a well-baby checkup. What action should the nurse recommend to the woman to prevent the transmission of organisms to her infant during the cold season?
Handwashing remains the most effective preventive measure to reduce the transmission of organisms
The nurse is caring for a patient whose recent unexplained weight loss and history of smoking have prompted diagnostic testing for cancer. What symptom is most closely associated with the early stages of laryngeal cancer?
Hoarseness is an early symptom of laryngeal cancer. Dyspnea, dysphagia, and lumps are later signs of laryngeal cancer
The nurse is assessing a patient whose respiratory disease in characterized by chronic hyperinflation of the lungs. What would the nurse most likely assess in this patient?A barrel chest
In COPD patients with a primary emphysematous component, chronic hyperinflation leads to the barrel chest thorax configuration.
A patient visiting the clinic is diagnosed with acute sinusitis. To promote sinus drainage, the nurse should instruct the patient to perform which of the following?
Increase fluid intake. For a patient diagnosed with acute sinusitis, the nurse should instruct the patient that hot packs, increasing fluid intake, and elevating the head of the bed can promote drainage.
A nurse has been asked to give a workshop on COPD for a local community group. The nurse emphasizes the importance of smoking cessation because smoking has what pathophysiologic effect?
Increases the amount of mucus production .Smoking irritates the goblet cells and mucous glands, causing an increased accumulation of mucus, which, in turn, produces more irritation, infection, and damage to the lung
The nurse is planning the care of a patient who is scheduled for a laryngectomy. The nurse should assign the highest priority to which postoperative nursing diagnosis?
Ineffective airway clearance related to airway alterations
The campus nurse at a university is assessing a 21-year-old student who presents with a severe nosebleed. The site of bleeding appears to be the anterior portion of the nasal septum. The nurse instructs the student to tilt her head forward and the nurse applies pressure to the nose, but the student's nose continues to bleed. Which intervention should the nurse next implement?
Insert a tampon in the affected nare
A nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client with COPD. When teaching the client about breathing exercises, what should the nurse include in the teaching?Use diaphragmatic breathing
Inspiratory muscle training and breathing retraining may help improve breathing patterns in patients with COPD. Training in diaphragmatic breathing reduces the respiratory rate,
The nurse is caring for a patient who needs education on his medication therapy for allergic rhinitis. The patient is to take cromolyn Nasalcrom daily. In providing education for this patient, how should the nurse describe the action of the medication?
It inhibits the release of histamine and other chemicals Cromolyn Nasalcrom inhibits the release of histamine and other chemicals. It is prescribed to treat allergic rhinitis
The case manager for a group of patients with COPD is providing health education. What is most important for the nurse to assess when providing instructions on self-management to these patients?
Knowledge about self-care and their therapeutic regimen
The nurse is reviewing the electronic health record of a patient with an empyema. What health problem in the patient's history is most likely to have caused the empyema? Pneumonia
Most empyemas occur as complications of bacterial pneumonia or lung abscess.
A firefighter was trapped in a fire and is admitted to the ICU for smoke inhalation. After 12 hours, the firefighter is exhibiting signs of ARDS and is intubated. What other supportive measures are initiated in a patient with ARDS?
Nutritional support This supportive therapy almost always includes intubation and mechanical ventilation. In addition, circulatory support, adequate fluid volume, and nutritional support are important
A patient is having pulmonary-function studies performed. The patient performs a spirometry test, revealing an FEV1/FVC ratio of 60%. How should the nurse interpret this assessment finding?
Obstructive lung disease Obstructive lung disease is apparent when an FEV1/FVC ratio is less than 70%.
A nurse is caring for a 6-year-old patient with cystic fibrosis. In order to enhance the child's nutritional status, what intervention should most likely be included in the plan of care?
Pancreatic enzyme supplementation with meals Nearly 90% of patients with CF have pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and require oral pancreatic enzyme supplementation with meals
A patient arrives in the emergency department with an attack of acute bronchiectasis. Chest auscultation reveals the presence of copious secretions. What intervention should the nurse prioritize in this patient's care?
Postural chest drainage
A patient in the ICU is status post embolectomy after a pulmonary embolus. What assessment parameter does the nurse monitor most closely on a patient who is postoperative following an embolectomy?
Pulmonary arterial pressure If the patient has undergone surgical embolectomy, the nurse measures the patient's pulmonary arterial pressure and urinary output.
The home care nurse is monitoring a patient discharged home after resolution of a pulmonary embolus. For what potential complication would the home care nurse be most closely monitoring this patient?
Residual effects of compromised oxygenationThe home care nurse should monitor the patient for residual effects of the PE, which involved a severe disruption in respiration and oxygenation.
A nurse is developing a teaching plan for a patient with COPD. What should the nurse include as the most important area of teaching?
Setting and accepting realistic short- and long-range goals
A nursing is planning the care of a patient with emphysema who will soon be discharged. What teaching should the nurse prioritize in the plan of care?
Setting realistic short-term and long-range goals A major area of teaching involves setting and accepting realistic short-term and long-range goals
A patient comes to the ED and is admitted with epistaxis. Pressure has been applied to the patient's midline septum for 10 minutes, but the bleeding continues. The nurse should anticipate using what treatment to control the bleeding?
Silver nitrate application If pressure to the midline septum does not stop the bleeding for epistaxis, additional treatment of silver nitrate application, Gelfoam, electrocautery, or vasoconstrictors may be used.
The nurse caring for a patient recently diagnosed with lung disease encourages the patient not to smoke. What is the primary rationale behind this nursing action?
Smoking damages the ciliary cleansing mechanism.
Incentive spirometry
Strategies to prevent atelectasis, which include frequent turning, early ambulation, lung-volume expansion maneuvers (deep breathing exercises, incentive spirometry), and coughing, serve as the first-line
An 87-year-old patient has been hospitalized with pneumonia. Which nursing action would be a priority in this patient's plan of care?Cautious hydration because of the risk of fluid overload in the elderly
Supportive treatment of pneumonia in the elderly includes hydration supplemental oxygen therapy; and assistance with deep breathing, coughing, frequent position changes, and early ambulation.
Hypovolemia secondary to leakage of fluid into the interstitial spaces
Systemic hypotension may occur in ARDS as a result of hypovolemia secondary to leakage of fluid into the interstitial spaces and depressed cardiac output from high levels of PEEP therapy
A student nurse is developing a teaching plan for an adult patient with asthma. Which teaching point should have the highest priority in the plan of care that the student is developing?
Take prescribed medications as scheduled.
Teach the patient strategies for promoting diaphragmatic breathing.
The breathing pattern of most people with COPD is shallow, rapid, and inefficient; the more severe the disease, the more inefficient the breathing pattern.
A nurse is providing health education to the family of a patient with bronchiectasis. What should the nurse teach the patient's family members?
The correct technique for providing postural drainage A focus of the care of bronchiectasis is helping patients clear pulmonary secretions; consequently, patients and families are taught to perform postural drainage.
Older adults often lack the classic signs and symptoms of pneumonia.
The diagnosis of pneumonia may be missed because the classic symptoms of cough, chest pain, sputum production, and fever may be absent or masked in older adult
A nurse is reviewing the pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis in anticipation of a new admission. The nurse should identify what characteristic aspects of CF?Bronchial mucus plugging, inflammation, and eventual bronchiectasis
The hallmark pathology of CF is bronchial mucus plugging, inflammation, and eventual bronchiectasis. Commonly, the bronchiectasis begins in the upper lobes and progresses to involve all lobes
An adult patient has tested positive for tuberculosis (TB). While providing patient teaching, what information should the nurse prioritize?
The importance of adhering closely to the prescribed medication regimen
The patient is anxious, has dyspnea and air hunger, has increased use of the accessory muscles, and may develop central cyanosis from severe hypoxemia.
The nurse at a long-term care facility is assessing each of the residents. Which resident most likely faces the greatest risk for aspiration?A resident who suffered a severe stroke several weeks ago
A patient with thoracic trauma is admitted to the ICU. The nurse notes the patient's chest and neck are swollen and there is a crackling sensation when palpated.
The nurse consequently identifies the presence of subcutaneous emphysema. If this condition becomes severe and threatens airway patency, what intervention is indicated?A tracheostomy
Early signs of acute respiratory failure are those associated with impaired oxygenation and may include restlessness, fatigue, headache, dyspnea, air hunger, tachycardia, and increased blood pressure
The nurse is caring for a 46-year-old patient recently diagnosed with the early stages of lung cancer. The nurse is aware that the preferred method of treating patients with non-small cell tumors is what?Surgical resection
Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level Common diagnostic tests performed for patients with potential ARDS include plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, echocardiography, and pulmonary artery catheterization.
The nurse is caring for a patient at risk for atelectasis. The nurse implements a first-line measure to prevent atelectasis development in the patient. What is an example of a first-line measure to minimize atelectasis?
In severe cases in which there is widespread subcutaneous emphysema, a tracheostomy is indicated if airway patency is threatened by pressure of the trapped air on the trachea
The nurse is caring for a patient in the ICU admitted with ARDS after exposure to toxic fumes from a hazardous spill at work. The patient has become hypotensive. What is the cause of this complication to the ARDS treatment?
Aspiration may occur if the patient cannot adequately coordinate protective glottic, laryngeal, and cough reflexes. These reflexes are often affected by stroke.
The nurse is caring for a patient suspected of having ARDS. What is the most likely diagnostic test ordered in the early stages of this disease to differentiate the patient's symptoms from those of a cardiac etiology?
A patient who has ARDS usually requires intubation and mechanical ventilation.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is scheduled for a lobectomy for a diagnosis of lung cancer. While assisting with a subclavian vein central line insertion, the nurse notes the client's oxygen saturation rapidly dropping.
The nurse assesses the patient with pulmonary emboli frequently for signs of hypoxemia
The nurse is caring for an 82-year-old patient with a diagnosis of tracheobronchitis. The patient begins complaining of right-sided chest pain that gets worse when he coughs or breathes deeply.
The nurse is assessing an adult patient following a motor vehicle accident. The nurse observes that the patient has an increased use of accessory muscles and is complaining of chest pain and shortness of breath.
The nurse should recognize the possibility of what condition? Pneumothorax If the pneumothorax is large and the lung collapses totally, acute respiratory distress occurs
A client presents to the walk-in clinic complaining of a dry, irritating cough and production of a minute amount of mucus-like sputum. The patient complains of soreness in her chest in the sternal area.
The nurse should suspect that the primary care provider will assess the patient for what health problem?Tracheobronchitis
Vital signs are within normal limits. What would you suspect this patient is experiencing?Pleuritic pain Pleuritic pain is limited in distribution rather than diffuse; it usually occurs only on one side.
The pain may become minimal or absent when the breath is held. It may be localized or radiate to the shoulder or abdomen. Later, as pleural fluid develops, the pain decreases
A clinic nurse is caring for a patient who has just been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The patient asks the nurse what he could have done to minimize the risk of contracting this disease. What would be the nurse's best answer "The most important risk factor for COPD is cigarette smoking."
Initially, the patient with tracheobronchitis has a dry, irritating cough and expectorates a scant amount of mucoid sputum.
The patient may report sternal soreness from coughing and have fever or chills, night sweats, headache, and general malaise
A nurse is planning the care of a client with bronchiectasis. What goal of care should the nurse prioritize?
The patient will successfully mobilize pulmonary secretions.
The nurse is caring for a patient who has been in a motor vehicle accident and the care team suspects that the patient has developed pleurisy. Which of the nurse's assessment findings would best corroborate this diagnosis?
The patient's pain intensifies when he coughs or takes a deep breath.
A patient has just been diagnosed with lung cancer. After the physician discusses treatment options and leaves the room, the patient asks the nurse how the treatment is decided upon. What would be the nurse's best response?
The type of treatment depends on the cell type of the cancer, the stage of the cancer, and the patient's health status." particularly cardiac and pulmonary status
A patient with emphysema is experiencing shortness of breath. To relieve this patient's symptoms, the nurse should assist her into what position?Sitting upright, leaning forward slightly
The typical posture of a person with COPD is to lean forward and use the accessory muscles of respiration to breathe.
A nurse is explaining to a patient with asthma what her new prescription for prednisone is used for. What would be the most accurate explanation that the nurse could give?
To gain prompt control of inadequately controlled, persistent asthma
The occupational health nurse is assessing new employees at a company. What would be important to assess in employees with a potential occupational respiratory exposure to a toxin? Select all that apply.
Type of respiratory protection used Time frame of exposure Breath sounds Intensity of exposure
A nurse is caring for a patient with COPD. The patient's medication regimen has been recently changed and the nurse is assessing for therapeutic effect of a new bronchodilator.
What assessment parameters suggest a consequent improvement in respiratory status? Select all that apply Increased expiratory flow rate Relief of dyspnea
The school nurse is presenting a class on smoking cessation at the local high school. A participant in the class asks the nurse about the risk of lung cancer in those who smoke.
What response related to risk for lung cancer in smokers is most accurate?The younger you are when you start smoking, the higher your risk of lung cancer."
A critical-care nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with pneumonia as a surgical complication. The nurse's assessment reveals that the patient has an increased work of breathing due to copious tracheobronchial secretions.
What should the nurse encourage the patient to do? Increase oral fluids unless contraindicated.The nurse should encourage hydration because adequate hydration thins and loosens pulmonary secretions.
The nurse is providing discharge teaching for a patient who developed a pulmonary embolism after total knee surgery. The patient has been converted from heparin to sodium warfarin anticoagulant therapy.
What should the nurse teach the client?Anticoagulant therapy usually lasts between 3 and 6 months.Anticoagulant therapy prevents further clot formation, but cannot be used to dissolve a clot.
A nurse's assessment reveals that a client with COPD may be experiencing bronchospasm. What assessment finding would suggest that the patient is experiencing bronchospasm?
Wheezes or diminished breath sounds on auscultation
With practice, this type of upper chest breathing can be changed to diaphragmatic breathing, which reduces the respiratory rate, increases alveolar ventilation, and sometimes helps expel as much air as possible during
expiration. Suctioning is not normally necessary in patients with COPD. Supplementary oxygen is not normally delivered by simple face mask and exercise may or may not be appropriate
increases alveolar ventilation, and, sometimes, helps expel as much air as possible during expiration. Pursed-lip breathing helps slow expiration, prevents collapse of small airways, and controls the rate and depth
of respiration. Diaphragmatic breathing, not chest breathing, increases lung expansion. Supine positioning does not aid breathing.
Management of acute laryngitis includes resting the voice, avoiding irritants
resting, and inhaling cool steam or an aerosol. Fluid intake should be increased.
An x-ray of a trauma patient reveals rib fractures and the patient is diagnosed with a small flail chest injury. Which intervention should the nurse include in the patient's plan of care?Suction the patient's airway secretions.
treatment of flail chest is usually supportive. Management includes clearing secretions from the lungs
