Chapter 38: OThe nurse is caring for an older adult client on home oxygen who has dentures, but has quit wearing them stating that the dentures irritate the gums. What nursing action is appropriate?xygen Perfusion
The nurse is instructing the client with a pulmonary disorder on deep breathing. The client asks, "Why is it important to start by breathing through my nose, then exhaling through my mouth?" Which appropriate response would the nurse give this client?
"Breathing through your nose first will warm, filter, and humidify the air you are breathing."
The nurse is preparing discharge teaching for a client who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Which teaching about deep breathing will the nurse include?
"Inhale slowly over three seconds, purse your lips, contract abdominal muscles, and exhale slowly."
The nurse is demonstrating oxygen administration to a client. Which teaching will the nurse include the humidifier?
"Small water droplets come from this, thus preventing dry mucous membranes."
The nurse is preparing discharge teaching for a client with a history of recurrent pneumonia. What deep breathing techniques will the nurse plan to teach?
"Take in as much air as possible, hold your breath briefly, and exhale slowly."
A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) reports severe shortness of breath when it is raining. The nurse says to the client:
"The air is thicker or more viscous with humidity, thus it is harder for you to breathe." People with chronic respiratory diseases often find breathing more difficult when the weather is hot and humid because humidity contributes to air viscosity.
The nurse is conducting the physical assessment of a client at the health care facility. The nurse uses the pulse oximetry technique to monitor the oxygen saturation in the client's blood. Which pulse oximeter range indicates that the client is adequately oxygenated?
95% to 100%
The nurse is educating an adolescent with asthma on how to use a metered-dose inhaler. Which education point follows recommended guidelines?
A metered-dose inhaler (MDI) delivers a controlled dose of medication with each compression of the canister. The canister must be shaken to mix the medication properly. MDIs are inhaled through the mouth, into the lungs. The medication should be inhaled slowly to ensure a sufficient dose enters the lungs. If the order is for two sprays, these sprays are administered with one spray for each breath. The inhaled breath should be held briefly after each spray in order to prevent immediately exhaling the medication.
A nurse assessing a patient's respiratory effort notes that the client's breaths are shallow and 8 per minute. Shortly after, the client's respirations cease. Which of the following should the nurse use for this patient?
Ambu bag If the patient is not breathing with an adequate rate and depth, or if the patient has lost the respiratory drive, a manual rescucitation bag (Ambu bag)may be used to deliver oxygen until the patient is resuscitated or can be intubated with an endotracheal tube.
The nurse is caring for a client who has a compromised cardiopulmonary system and needs to assess the client's tissue oxygenation. The nurse would use which appropriate method to assess this client's oxygenation?
Arterial blood gas
The nurse is caring for an older adult client on home oxygen who has dentures, but has quit wearing them stating that the dentures irritate the gums. What nursing action is appropriate?
Check fit of oxygen mask. The fit of the oxygen mask can be affected by the discontinuation of wearing dentures. The nurse should check the fit to make sure the client is getting the prescribed amount of oxygen. Other answers are inappropriate actions that do not address the problem.
Upon evaluation of a client's medical history, the nurse recognizes that which condition may lead to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the tissues of the body?
Chronic anemia The majority of oxygen is carried by the red blood cells. Anemia, a decrease in the amount of red blood cells or erythrocytes, results in insufficient hemoglobin available to transport oxygen. This may lead to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the tissues of the body.
A nurse is conducting a physical assessment of a client who is being treated for pleural effusion at a health care facility. The nurse needs the client to exhale additional air, which will allow the nurse to check the quality of the client's oxygenation. What instruction should the nurse give the client?
Contract the abdominal muscles. The nurse should instruct the client to contract the abdominal muscles to exhale additional air. A person can forcibly exhale additional air by contracting abdominal muscles such as the rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis, and external and internal obliques. The client elevates the ribs and sternum and expands the thoracic cavity during inspiration. The client relaxes the respiratory muscles during normal expiration.
The home care nurse visits a client who has dyspnea. The nurse notes the client has pitting edema in his feet and ankles. Which additional assessment would the nurse expect to observe?
Crackles in the lower lobes People with chronic congestive heart failure often experience shortness of breath because of excess fluid in the lungs and low oxygen levels. Stridor is associated with respiratory infections such as croup. Wheezing may be heard in individuals who use tobacco products.
The pediatric nurse is instructing parents on safety when caring for toddlers and preschoolers. Which of the following teaching interventions is appropriate for this age group?
Cut a hot dog in half, then pieces During the toddler and preschool years, children place things in their mouths, and caregivers must protect them against aspirating foreign objects that can obstruct small air passages. Providing safe toys and avoiding hard candy or small hard pieces of food are important ways to ensure normal respiratory function for children in this age grou
A 24-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital for an exacerbation of symptoms related to her cystic fibrosis. During a nurse's assessment of the client, the nurse notices a bluish color around her lips. What is the client exhibiting in this scenario?
Cyanosis
Which skin disorder is associated with asthma?
Eczema
Forced expiratory volume measures the amount of air exhaled in the first second after a full inspiration; it can also be measured at 2 or 3 seconds.
Forced expiratory volume= the amount of air exhaled in the first second after a full inspiration
The nurse assesses a client and detects the following findings: difficulty breathing, increased respiratory and pulse rates, and pale skin with regions of cyanosis. What condition would the nurse suspect as causing these respiratory alterations?
Hypoxia Hypoxia is a condition in which an inadequate amount of oxygen is available to cells. Difficulty breathing, increased respiratory and pulse rates, and pale skin with regions of cyanosis are all signs of hypoxia. Hyperventilation is an increased rate and depth of ventilation, above the body's normal metabolic requirements. Perfusion refers to the process by which oxygenated capillary blood passes through body tissues. Atelectasis refers to collapsed alveoli.
The client has an increased anteroposterior chest diameter, dyspnea, and nasal flaring. The most appropriate nursing diagnosis is:
Ineffective Breathing Pattern related to hyperventilation related to increased anteroposterior diameter.
A client who was prescribed CPAP several months ago reports non-adherence to treatment. What is the appropriate priority nursing intervention?
Inquire about factors that contribute to non-adherence. The nurse must first assess the reasons that contribute to non-adherence; interventions cannot be determined without a thorough assessment. Other interventions take place after assessment.
Which teaching about the oxygen analyzer is important for the nurse to provide to a client using oxygen?
It determines whether the client is getting enough oxygen.
Which teaching about a flowmeter is important for the nurse to provide to a client using oxygen?
It regulates the amount of oxygen received.
A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requires low flow oxygen. How will the oxygen be administered?
Nasal cannula
A nurse is caring for an asthmatic client who requires a low concentration of oxygen. Which delivery device should the nurse use in order to administer oxygen to the client?
Nasal cannula The nurse should use a nasal cannula to administer oxygen to an asthmatic client who requires a low concentration of oxygen. A nasal cannula is a hollow tube with half-inch prongs placed into the client's nostrils. It is used for administering a low concentration of oxygen to clients who are not extremely hypoxic and are diagnosed with chronic lung disease.
A patient's primary care provider has informed the nurse that the patient will require thoracentesis. The nurse should suspect that the patient has developed which of the following disorders of lung function?
Pleural effusion
A patient's primary care provider has informed the nurse that the patient will require thoracentesis. The nurse should suspect that the patient has developed which of the following disorders of lung function?
Pleural effusion Thoracentesis involves the removal of fluid from the pleural space, either for diagnostic purposes or to remove an accumulation of fluid in this space (pleural effusion).
When a nurse observes that an older client's skin is dry and shiny and his nails are thickened, the nurse determines that the client is most likely experiencing
Poor tissue perfusion Chronically poor perfusion may result in hair loss in the affected area, discolored skin, thickened nails, and shiny, dry skin indicative of inadequate tissue nutrition.
When reviewing data collection on a client with a cardiac output of 2.5 L/minute, the nurse inspects the client for which symptom?
Rapid respirations
The nurse schedules a pulmonary function test to measure the amount of air left in a client's lungs at maximal expiration. What test does the nurse order?
Residual Volume (RV)
During a pulmonary function test the amount of air left in the lungs at the end of maximal expiration is called residual volume.
Residual volume= the amount of air left in the lungs after maximum expiration
The nurse is caring for a client with shortness of breath who is receiving oxygen at 4 L/minute. Which assessment finding will demonstrate that oxygen therapy is effective?
SpO2 92% An SpO2 at or above 90% is normal, reflecting that oxygen therapy is being effective.
When caring for a client with a tracheostomy, the nurse would perform which recommended action?
Suction the tracheostomy tube using sterile technique. Sterile technique is required when suctioning a tracheostomy in order to prevent introduction of microorganisms into the respiratory tract. The area around a new tracheostomy may need to be assessed and cleaned every 1 to 2 hours. Gauze dressings that are not filled with cotton must be used to prevent aspiration of lint or cotton fibers into the trachea.
Venturi Mask best for COPD
The Venturi mask delivers the most accurate oxygen concentration. It is the best oxygen delivery system for the client with chronic airflow limitation because it delivers a precise oxygen concentration
The nurse is auscultating the lungs of a client and detects normal vesicular breath sounds. What is a characteristic of vesicular breath sounds?
They are low-pitched, soft sounds heard over peripheral lung fields.
Tidal volume refers to the total amount of air inhaled and exhaled with one breath.
Tidal Volume= total amount of air inhaled and exhaled with one breath
Total lung capacity is the amount of air contained within the lungs at maximum inspiration.
Total lung capacity= the air contained in the lungs at maximum inspiration
After insertion of a chest tube, fluctuations in the water-seal chamber that correspond with inspiration and expiration are an expected and normal finding.
True
During data collection, the nurse auscultates low-pitched, soft sounds over the lungs' peripheral fields. Which appropriate terminology would the nurse use to describe these lung sounds when documenting?
Vesicular
In which client would the nurse assess for a depressed respiratory system?
a client taking opioids for cancer pain
A nurse is admitting a 6-year-old child status post tonsillectomy to the surgical unit. The nurse obtains his weight and places EKG and a pulse oximeter on the client's left finger. His heart rate reads 100 bpm and the pulse oximeter reads 99%. These readings best indicate:
adequate tissue perfusion.
The nurse is caring for a postoperative adult client who has developed pneumonia. The nurse should assess the client frequently for symptoms of:
atelectasis.
A client has edema of the feet and ankles, along with crackles in the lower lobes and a frothy, productive cough. The client is suffering from:
congestive heart failure.
The nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed humidified oxygen at 6 L/minute. Which type of liquid will the nurse gather to set up the humidifier?
distilled water
A client with no prior history of respiratory illness has been admitted to a postoperative unit following foot surgery. What intervention should the nurse prioritize in an effort to prevent postoperative pneumonia and atelectasis during this time of reduced mobility following surgery?
educating the client on the use of incentive spirometry Incentive spirometry maximizes lung inflation and can prevent or reduce atelectasis and help mobilize secretions.
The nurse is implementing an order for oxygen for a client with facial burns. Which delivery device will the nurse gather?
face tent
The nurse is conducting a respiratory assessment of a client age 71 years who has been recently admitted to the hospital unit. Which assessment finding should the nurse interpret as abnormal?
fine crackles to the bases of the lungs bilaterally
An older adult client is visibly pale with a respiratory rate of 30 breaths per minute. Upon questioning, the client states to the the nurse, "I can't seem to catch my breath." The nurse has responded by repositioning the client and measuring the client's oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry, yielding a reading of 90%. The nurse should interpret this oxygen saturation reading in light of the client's:
hemoglobin level.
The nurse is caring for a 3-year-old client who experienced smoke inhalation during a house fire, and now requires oxygen. What delivery device will the nurse select that is most appropriate for this client?
oxygen tent An oxygen tent is often used when caring for active toddlers who require oxygen, since they are less likely to keep a mask on. Nasal catheters and masks are inappropriate, as the child will attempt to remove them and not receive the benefit of oxygen therapy.
The nurse is caring for a client with respiratory alkalosis. Which arterial blood gas data does the nurse anticipate finding?
pH greater than 7.45; HCO3 low; PaCO2 low; hyperventilation
The nurse is caring for a client who was had a percutaneous tracheostomy (PCT) following a motor vehicle accident, and has been prescribed oxygen. What delivery device will the nurse select that is most appropriate for this client?
tracheostomy collar A tracheostomy collar delivers oxygen near an artificial opening in the neck. This is appropriate for a client who has had a PCT. All other devices are less appropriate for this client.
The nurse is caring for a client who has a percutaneous tracheostomy (PCT) following a skydiving accident. Which oxygen delivery device will the nurse select?
tracheostomy collar A tracheostomy collar delivers oxygen near an artificial opening in the neck. This is appropriate for a client who has had a PCT. Other devices are not appropriate for this client.