Chapter 24: Management of Patients with Chronic Pulmonary Disease

The nurse should be alert for a complication of bronchiectasis that results from a combination of retained secretions and obstruction and that leads to the collapse of alveoli. What complication should the nurse monitor for? Atelectasis Emphysema Pleurisy Pneumonia

Atelectasis Explanation: In bronchiectasis, the retention of secretions and subsequent obstruction ultimately cause the alveoli distal to the obstruction to collapse (atelectasis).

A physician orders triamcinolone and salmeterol for a client with a history of asthma. What action should the nurse take when administering these drugs? Administer the triamcinolone and then administer the salmeterol. Administer the salmeterol and then administer the triamcinolone. Allow the client to choose the order in which the drugs are administered. Monitor the client's theophylline level before administering the medications.

Administer the salmeterol and then administer the triamcinolone. A client with asthma typically takes bronchodilators and uses corticosteroid inhalers to prevent acute episodes. Triamcinolone (Azmacort) is a corticosteroid; Salmeterol (Serevent) is an adrenergic stimulant (bronchodilator). If the client is ordered a bronchodilator and another inhaled medication, the bronchodilator should be administered first to dilate the airways and to enhance the effectiveness of the second medication. The client may not choose the order in which these drugs are administered because they must be administered in a particular order. Monitoring the client's theophylline level isn't necessary before administering these drugs because neither drug contains theophylline.

A client is diagnosed with a chronic respiratory disorder. After assessing the client's knowledge of the disorder, the nurse prepares a teaching plan. This teaching plan is most likely to include which nursing diagnosis? Anxiety Imbalanced nutrition: More than body requirements Impaired swallowing Unilateral neglect

Anxiety In a client with a respiratory disorder, anxiety worsens such problems as dyspnea and bronchospasm. Therefore, Anxiety is a likely nursing diagnosis. This client may have inadequate nutrition, making Imbalanced nutrition: More than body requirements an unlikely nursing diagnosis. Impaired swallowing may occur in a client with an acute respiratory disorder, such as upper airway obstruction, but not in one with a chronic respiratory disorder. Unilateral neglect may be an appropriate nursing diagnosis when neurologic illness or trauma causes a lack of awareness of a body part; however, this diagnosis doesn't occur in a chronic respiratory disorder.

A nurse is assisting a client with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to set a goal related to the condition. Which of the following is an appropriate goal for this client? Maintain activity level of walking to the mailbox. Continue with current level of mobility at home. Increase walking distance around a city block without shortness of breath. Relieve shortness of breath to a level as close as possible to tolerable.

Increase walking distance around a city block without shortness of breath. Explanation: If the client has mild COPD, goals are to increase exercise and prevent further loss of pulmonary function. The client who increases his walking distance without shortness of breath meets these criteria. If the client has severe COPD, goals are then to preserve current pulmonary function and relieve symptoms as much as possible. Examples of these goals are the other options, in which the activity level is at current and symptoms are relieved to tolerable or close to tolerable.

Which of the following factors contribute to the underlying pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)? Select all that apply. Inflamed airways obstruct airflow. Mucus secretions block airways. Overinflated alveoli impair gas exchange. Dry airways obstruct airflow.

Inflamed airways obstruct airflow. Mucus secretions block airways. Overinflated alveoli impair gas exchange. Explanation: Because of the chronic inflammation and the body's attempts to repair it, changes and narrowing occur in the airways. In the peripheral airways, inflammation causes thickening of the airway wall, peribronchial fibrosis, exudate in the airway, and overall airway narrowing (obstructive bronchiolitis). The airways are actually moist, not dry. In the proximal airways, changes include increased goblet cells and enlarged submucosal glands, both of which lead to hypersecretion of mucus.

A nurse is discussing asthma complications with a client and family. What complications should the nurse include in the teaching? Select all that apply. Status asthmaticus Respiratory failure Pertussis Atelectasis Thoracentesis

Status asthmaticus Respiratory failure Atelectasis Complications of asthma may include status asthmaticus, respiratory failure, and atelectasis. Pertussis is not an asthma complication. Thoracentesis is a diagnostic procedure, not a complication.

A commonly prescribed methylxanthine used as a bronchodilator is which of the following? Theophylline Levalbuterol Terbutaline Albuterol

Theophylline Explanation: Theophylline is an example of a methylxanthine. All the others are examples of inhaled short-acting beta2 agonists.

The nurse is assigned to care for a patient in the ICU who is diagnosed with status asthmaticus. Why does the nurse include fluid intake as being an important aspect of the plan of care? (Select all that apply.) To combat dehydration To assist with the effectiveness of the corticosteroids To loosen secretions To facilitate expectoration To relieve bronchospasm

To combat dehydration To loosen secretions To facilitate expectoration Explanation: The nurse also assesses the patient's skin turgor for signs of dehydration. Fluid intake is essential to combat dehydration, to loosen secretions, and to facilitate expectoration.

A nurse is assisting with a subclavian vein central line insertion when the client's oxygen saturation drops rapidly. He complains of shortness of breath and becomes tachypneic. The nurse suspects the client has developed a pneumothorax. Further assessment findings supporting the presence of a pneumothorax include: diminished or absent breath sounds on the affected side. paradoxical chest wall movement with respirations. tracheal deviation to the unaffected side. muffled or distant heart sounds.

diminished or absent breath sounds on the affected side. Explanation: In the case of a pneumothorax, auscultating for breath sounds will reveal absent or diminished breath sounds on the affected side. Paradoxical chest wall movements occur in flail chest conditions. Tracheal deviation occurs in a tension pneumothorax. Muffled or distant heart sounds occur in cardiac tamponade.

A nurse is caring for a client admitted with an exacerbation of asthma. The nurse knows the client's condition is worsening when he: sits in tripod position. has a pulse oximetry reading of 93%. uses the sternocleidomastoid muscles. wants the head of the bed raised to a 90-degree level.

uses the sternocleidomastoid muscles. Use of accessory muscles indicates worsening breathing conditions. Assuming the tripod position, a 93% pulse oximetry reading, and a request for the nurse to raise the head of the bed don't indicate that the client's condition is worsening.

A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is recovering from a myocardial infarction. Because the client is extremely weak and can't produce an effective cough, the nurse should monitor closely for: pleural effusion. pulmonary edema. atelectasis. oxygen toxicity.

atelectasis. In a client with COPD, an ineffective cough impedes secretion removal. This, in turn, causes mucus plugging, which leads to localized airway obstruction — a known cause of atelectasis. An ineffective cough doesn't cause pleural effusion (fluid accumulation in the pleural space). Pulmonary edema usually results from left-sided heart failure, not an ineffective cough. Although many noncardiac conditions may cause pulmonary edema, an ineffective cough isn't one of them. Oxygen toxicity results from prolonged administration of high oxygen concentrations, not an ineffective cough.

What are the primary causes for an acute exacerbation of COPD? Select all that apply. Air pollution Tracheobronchial infection Change in season from spring to summer Gastrointestinal viruses Hypertension

Air pollution Tracheobronchial infection Common causes of an acute exacerbation include tracheobronchial infection and air pollution. However, the cause of approximately one third of severe exacerbations cannot be identified. Change in season from spring to summer, hypertension, and GI viruses are not causes of exacerbation of COPD. Winter is worse for COPD when viral and bacterial infections are more prevalent.

Which statement is true about both lung transplant and bullectomy? Both procedures cure COPD. Both procedures treat end-stage emphysema. Both procedures treat patients with bullous emphysema. Both procedures improve the overall quality of life of a client with COPD.

Both procedures improve the overall quality of life of a client with COPD. Explanation: Treatments for COPD are aimed more at treating the symptoms and preventing complications, thereby improving the overall quality of life of a client with COPD. In fact, there is no cure for COPD. Lung transplant is aimed at treating end-stage emphysema and bullectomy is used to treat clients with bullous emphysema.

A nurse has just completed teaching with a client who has been prescribed a meter-dosed inhaler for the first time. Which statement if made by the client would indicate to the nurse that further teaching and follow-up care is necessary? "I will make sure to take a slow, deep breath as I push on my inhaler." "After I breathe in, I will hold my breath for 10 seconds." "I do not need to rinse my mouth with this type of inhaler." "If I use the spacer, I know I am only supposed to push on the inhaler once."

Correct response: "I do not need to rinse my mouth with this type of inhaler." Explanation: Mouth-washing and spitting are effective in reducing the amount of drug swallowed and absorbed systemically. Actuation during a slow (30 L/min or 3 to 5 seconds) and deep inhalation should be followed by 10 seconds of holding the breath. The client should actuate only once. Simple tubes do not obviate the spacer/VHC per inhalation.

As status asthmaticus worsens, the nurse would expect which acid-base imbalance? Respiratory alkalosis Metabolic alkalosis Respiratory acidosis Metabolic acidosis

Respiratory acidosis As status asthmaticus worsens, the PaCO2 increases and the pH decreases, reflecting respiratory acidosis.

A nurse is caring for a client with status asthmaticus. Which medication should the nurse prepare to administer? An inhaled beta2-adrenergic agonist An inhaled corticosteroid An I.V. beta2-adrenergic agonist An oral corticosteroid

An inhaled beta2-adrenergic agonist Explanation: An inhaled beta2-adrenergic agonist helps promote bronchodilation, which improves oxygenation. Although an I.V. beta2-adrenergic agonist can be used, the client needs be monitored because of the drug's greater systemic effects. The I.V. form is typically used when the inhaled beta2-adrenergic agonist doesn't work. A corticosteroid is slow acting, so its use won't reduce hypoxia in the acute phase.

Which measure may increase complications for a client with COPD? Administration of antibiotics Increased oxygen supply Administration of antitussive agents Decreased oxygen supply

Increased oxygen supply Explanation: Administering too much oxygen can result in the retention of carbon dioxide. Clients with alveolar hypoventilation cannot increase ventilation to adjust for this increased load, and hypercapnia occurs. All the other measures aim to prevent complications.

A nursing student is taking a pathophysiology examination. Which of the following factors would the student correctly identify as contributing to the underlying pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)? Choose all that apply. Inflamed airways that obstruct airflow Mucus secretions that block airways Overinflated alveoli that impair gas exchange Dry airways that obstruct airflow Decreased numbers of goblet cells

Inflamed airways that obstruct airflow Mucus secretions that block airways Overinflated alveoli that impair gas exchange Because of chronic inflammation and the body's attempts to repair it, changes and narrowing occur in the airways. In the proximal airways, changes include increased numbers of goblet cells and enlarged submucosal glands, both of which lead to hypersecretion of mucus. In the peripheral airways, inflammation causes thickening of the airway wall, peribronchial fibrosis, exudate in the airway, and overall airway narrowing.

A client has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Following a coughing episode, the client reports sudden and unrelieved shortness of breath. Which of the following is the most important for the nurse to assess? Lung sounds Skin color Heart rate Respiratory rate

Lung sounds Explanation: A client with COPD is at risk for developing pneumothorax. The description given is consistent with possible pneumothorax. Though the nurse will assess all the data, auscultating the lung sounds will provide the nurse with the information if the client has a pneumothorax.

What is histamine, a mediator that supports the inflammatory process in asthma, secreted by? Eosinophils Lymphocytes Mast cells Neutrophils

Mast cells Mast cells, neutrophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes play key roles in the inflammation associated with asthma. When activated, mast cells release several chemicals called mediators. One of these chemicals is called histamine.