Chap 24 test
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? A) Increases the amount of mucus production B) Destabilizes hemoglobin C) Shrinks the alveoli in the lungs D) Collapses the alveoli in the lungs
A) Increases the amount of mucus production Feedback: 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.
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? A) Pets B) Lack of sleep C) Psychosocial stress D) Bacteria
A) Pets Feedback: Common causative agents that may trigger an asthma attack are as follows: dust, dust mites, pets, soap, certain foods, molds, and pollens. Lack of sleep, stress, and bacteria are not common triggers for asthma attacks.
A patient with emphysema is experiencing shortness of breath. To relieve this patient's symptoms, the nurse should assist her into what position? A) Sitting upright, leaning forward slightly B) Low Fowler's, with the neck slightly hyperextended C) Prone D) Trendelenburg
A) Sitting upright, leaning forward slightly Feedback: The typical posture of a person with COPD is to lean forward and use the accessory muscles of respiration to breathe.
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. A) Chest tightness B) Crackles C) Bradypnea D) Wheezing E) Cough
A,D,E Chest tightness, Wheezing, Cough Feedback: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that causes airway hyperresponsiveness, mucosal edema, and mucus production. This inflammation ultimately leads to recurrent episodes of asthma symptoms: cough, chest tightness, wheezing, and dyspnea. Crackles and bradypnea are not typical symptoms of asthma.
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? A) Rescue inhalers B) Anti-inflammatory drugs C) Antibiotics D) Antitussives
B) Anti-inflammatory drugs Feedback: Because the underlying pathology of asthma is inflammation, control of persistent asthma is accomplished primarily with regular use of anti-inflammatory medications. Rescue inhalers, antibiotics, and antitussives do not aid in the first-line control of persistent asthma.
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? A) Smoking up to one-half of a pack of cigarettes weekly is allowable. B) Chronic inhalation of indoor toxins can cause lung damage. C) Minor respiratory infections are considered to be self-limited and are not treated. D) Activities of daily living (ADLs) should be clustered in the early morning hours.
B) Chronic inhalation of indoor toxins can cause lung damage. Feedback: Environmental risk factors for COPD include prolonged and intense exposure to occupational dusts and chemicals, indoor air pollution, and outdoor air pollution. Smoking cessation should be taught to all patients who are currently smoking. Minor respiratory infections that are of no consequence to the person with normal lungs can produce fatal disturbances in the lungs of the person with emphysema. ADLs should be paced throughout the day to permit patients to perform these without excessive distress.
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? A) Kyphosis and clubbing of the fingers B) Dyspnea and hypoxemia C) Sepsis and pneumothorax D) Bradypnea and pursed lip breathing
B) Dyspnea and hypoxemia Feedback: These changes in the airway require that the nurse monitor the patient for dyspnea and hypoxemia. Kyphosis is a musculoskeletal problem. Sepsis and pneumothorax are atypical complications. Tachypnea is much more likely than bradypnea. Pursed lip breathing can relieve dyspnea.
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) Encouraging patients to carry a corticosteroid rescue inhaler at all times B) Educating patients about recognizing and avoiding asthma triggers C) Teaching patients to utilize alternative therapies in asthma management D) Ensuring that patients keep their immunizations up to date
B) Educating patients about recognizing and avoiding asthma triggers Feedback: Asthma exacerbations are best managed by early treatment and education, including the use of written action plans as part of any overall effort to educate patients about self-management techniques, especially those with moderate or severe persistent asthma or with a history of severe exacerbations. Corticosteroids are not used as rescue inhalers. Alternative therapies are not normally a high priority, though their use may be appropriate in some cases. Immunizations should be kept up to date, but this does not necessarily prevent asthma exacerbations.
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? A) Highest airflow during a forced inspiration B) Highest airflow during a forced expiration C) Airflow during a normal inspiration D) Airflow during a normal expiration
B) Highest airflow during a forced expiration Feedback: Peak flow meters measure the highest airflow during a forced expiration.
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? A) Pulmonary edema B) Lobular emphysema C) Cystic fibrosis (CF) D) Empyema
B) Lobular emphysema Feedback: A host risk factor for COPD is a deficiency of alpha1-antitrypsin, an enzyme inhibitor that protects the lung parenchyma from injury. This deficiency predisposes young patients to rapid development of lobular emphysema even in the absence of smoking. This deficiency does not influence the patient's risk of pulmonary edema, CF, or empyema.
A nurse is developing a teaching plan for a patient with COPD. What should the nurse include as the most important area of teaching? A) Avoiding extremes of heat and cold B) Setting and accepting realistic short- and long-range goals C) Adopting a lifestyle of moderate activity D) Avoiding emotional disturbances and stressful situations
B) Setting and accepting realistic short- and long-range goals Feedback: A major area of teaching involves setting and accepting realistic short-term and long-range goals. The other options should also be included in the teaching plan, but they are not areas that are as high a priority as setting and accepting realistic goals.
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 (MDI)? A) The patient has not yet quit smoking. B) The patient has severe arthritis in her hands. C) The patient requires both corticosteroids and beta2-agonists. D) The patient has cataracts.
B) The patient has severe arthritis in her hands. Feedback: Safe and effective MDI use requires the patient to be able to manipulate the device independently, which may be difficult if the patient has arthritis. Smoking does not preclude MDI use. A modest loss of vision does not preclude the use of an MDI and a patient can safely use more than one MDI.
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? A) Fine or coarse crackles on auscultation B) Wheezes or diminished breath sounds on auscultation C) Reduced respiratory rate or lethargy D) Slow, deliberate respirations
B) Wheezes or diminished breath sounds on auscultation Feedback: Wheezing and diminished breath sounds are consistent with bronchospasm. Crackles are usually attributable to other respiratory or cardiac pathologies. Bronchospasm usually results in rapid, inefficient breathing and agitation. 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? A) Knowledge of alternative treatment modalities B) Family awareness of functional ability and activities of daily living (ADLs) C) Knowledge of the pathophysiology of the disease process D) Knowledge about self-care and their therapeutic regimen Ans: D) Knowledge about self-care and their therapeutic regimen Feedback: When providing instructions about self-management, it is important for the nurse to assess the knowledge of patients and family members about self-care and the therapeutic regimen. This supersedes knowledge of alternative treatments or the pathophysiology of the disease, neither of which is absolutely necessary for patients to know. The patient's own knowledge is more important than that of the family.
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) Administer corticosteroids by metered dose inhaler B) Administer inhaled anticholinergics C) Administer an inhaled beta-adrenergic agonist D) Utilize a peak flow monitoring device
C) Administer an inhaled beta-adrenergic agonist Feedback: Systemic corticosteroids may be necessary to decrease airway inflammation in patients who fail to respond to inhaled beta-adrenergic medication. A peak flow device will not resolve short-term shortness of breath.
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? A) Shallow respirations B) Increased anterior-posterior (A-P) diameter C) Bilateral wheezes D) Bradypnea
C) Bilateral wheezes Feedback: The three most common symptoms of asthma are cough, dyspnea, and wheezing. There may be generalized wheezing (the sound of airflow through narrowed airways), first on expiration and then, possibly, during inspiration as well. Respirations are not usually slow and the child's A-P diameter does not normally change.
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? A) Dyspnea and increased respiratory secretions B) Nausea and vomiting C) Cough and oral thrush D) Fatigue and decreased level of consciousness
C) Cough and oral thrush Feedback: Azmacort has possible adverse effects of cough, dysphonia, oral thrush (candidiasis), and headache. In high doses, systemic effects may occur (e.g., adrenal suppression, osteoporosis, skin thinning, and easy bruising). The other listed adverse effects are not associated with this drug.
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? A) "I know that these drugs can sometimes make my heart beat faster." B) "I've heard that this drug is particularly good at preventing asthma attacks during exercise." C) "I'll make sure to use this each time I feel an asthma attack coming on." D) "I've heard that this drug sometimes gets less effective over time."
C) I'll make sure to use this each time I feel an asthma attack coming on. Feedback: LABAs are not used for management of acute asthma symptoms. Tachycardia is a potential adverse effect and decreased protection against exercise-induced bronchospasm may occur with regular use.
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? A) Lung cancer B) Cystic fibrosis C) Respiratory failure D) Hemothorax
C) Respiratory failure Feedback: Complications of COPD include respiratory failure, pneumothorax, atelectasis, pneumonia, and pulmonary hypertension (corpulmonale). Lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, and hemothorax are not common complications.
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? A) Gradually increase levels of physical exertion. B) Change filters on heaters and air conditioners frequently. C) Take prescribed medications as scheduled. D) Avoid goose-down pillows.
C) Take prescribed medications as scheduled. Feedback: Although all of the measures are appropriate for a client with asthma, taking prescribed medications on time is the most important measure in preventing asthma attacks.
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? A) Lie supine to facilitate air entry B) Avoid pursed lip breathing C) Use diaphragmatic breathing D) Use chest breathing
C) Use diaphragmatic breathing Feedback: Inspiratory muscle training and breathing retraining may help improve breathing patterns in patients with COPD. Training in diaphragmatic breathing reduces the respiratory rate, 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.
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? A) Social work assessment B) Insurance coverage C) Chloride levels D) Available diagnostic tests
D) Available diagnostic tests Feedback: In addition to the patient's history, the nurse reviews the results of available diagnostic tests. Social work assessment is not a priority for the majority of patients. Chloride levels are relevant to CF, not COPD. Insurance coverage is not normally the domain of the nurse.
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? A) Taking prophylactic antibiotics as ordered B) Adhering to the treatment regimen in order to cure the disease C) Avoiding airplanes, buses, and other crowded public places D) Setting realistic short-term and long-range goals
D) Setting realistic short-term and long-range goals Feedback: A major area of teaching involves setting and accepting realistic short-term and long-range goals. Emphysema is not considered curable and antibiotics are not used on a preventative basis. The patient does not normally need to avoid public places.
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? A) To ensure long-term prevention of asthma exacerbations B) To cure any systemic infection underlying asthma attacks C) To prevent recurrent pulmonary infections D) To gain prompt control of inadequately controlled, persistent asthma
D) To gain prompt control of inadequately controlled, persistent asthma Feedback: Prednisone is used for a short-term (3-10 days) "burst" to gain prompt control of inadequately controlled, persistent asthma. It is not used to treat infection or to prevent exacerbations in the long term.
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. A) Negative sputum culture B) Increased viscosity of lung secretions C) Increased respiratory rate D) Increased expiratory flow rate E) Relief of dyspnea
D,E) Increased expiratory flow rate, Relief of dyspnea Feedback: The relief of bronchospasm is confirmed by measuring improvement in expiratory flow rates and volumes (the force of expiration, how long it takes to exhale, and the amount of air exhaled) as well as by assessing the dyspnea and making sure that it has lessened. Increased respiratory rate and viscosity of secretions would suggest a worsening of the patient's respiratory status. Bronchodilators would not have a direct result on the patient's infectious process.
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? A) Teach the patient strategies for promoting diaphragmatic breathing. B) Administer supplementary oxygen by simple face mask. C) Teach the patient to perform airway suctioning. D) Assist the patient in developing an appropriate exercise program.
Teach the patient strategies for promoting diaphragmatic breathing. Feedback: The breathing pattern of most people with COPD is shallow, rapid, and inefficient
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? A) "The most important risk factor for COPD is exposure to occupational toxins." B) "The most important risk factor for COPD is inadequate exercise." C) "The most important risk factor for COPD is exposure to dust and pollen." D) "The most important risk factor for COPD is cigarette smoking."
The most important risk factor for COPD is cigarette smoking. Feedback: The most important risk factor for COPD is cigarette smoking. Lack of exercise and exposure to dust and pollen are not risk factors for COPD. Occupational risks are significant but are far exceeded by smoking.
