Chapter 40: Oxygenation and Perfusion

A child is admitted to the pediatric division with an acute asthma attack. The nurse assesses the lung sounds and respiratory rate. The mother asks the nurse, "Why is his chest sucking in above his stomach? The nurse's most accurate response is:

"He is using his chest muscles to help him breathe." Explanation: The client will use accessory muscles to ease dyspnea and improve 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." Explanation: Pursed-lip breathing is a form of controlled ventilation that is effective for clients with COPD. Other answers are incorrect techniques for deep breathing.

A nurse is volunteering at a day camp where a child is stung by a bee and develops wheezing in the upper airways. The nurse will provide interventions to address what health problem?

Bronchospasm Explanation: When allergic responses take place in the lungs, breathing difficulties are far more severe. Small airways become edematous, mucus production increases, and inflammatory chemical mediators cause bronchospasm. Bronchitis and bronchiectasis are chronic respiratory effects and bronchiolitis is infectious.

A client has edema of the feet and ankles, along with crackles in the lower lobes and a frothy, productive cough. The nursing care plan will address implications of what medical diagnosis?

Congestive heart failure Explanation: A client who has edema and a cough that is productive with frothy sputum is manifesting heart failure as a result of alterations to circulation. Pulmonary embolism presents with more acute signs of hypoxia. MI and lung cancer are not characterized by productive cough and frothy sputum.

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 Explanation: 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.

Which diagnostic procedure measures lung size and airway patency, producing graphic representations of lung volumes and flows?

Pulmonary function tests Explanation: Pulmonary function testing is used to measure lung size and airway patency. Chest x-rays are used to detect pathologic lung changes. Bronchoscopy allows the visualization of the airways directly. Skin tests are used to detect allergies.

A client vomits as a nurse is inserting his oropharyngeal airway. What would be the most appropriate intervention in this situation?

Remove the airway, turn the client to the side, and provide mouth suction, if necessary. Explanation: If the client vomits as the oropharyngeal airway is inserted, quickly position the client onto his or her side to prevent aspiration, remove the oral airway, and suction the mouth, if needed. It would be inappropriate and unsafe to leave the airway in place. Rinsing the client's mouth with water is not a priority.

When inspecting a client's chest to assess respiratory status, the nurse should be aware of which normal finding?

The chest should be slightly convex with no sternal depression. Explanation: The adult chest contour is slightly convex, with no sternal depression. The skin of the thorax should be warm and dry, and the anteroposterior diameter of the chest should be less than the transverse diameter. The contour of the intercostal spaces should be flat or depressed.

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 Explanation: After insertion of a chest tube, fluctuations in the water-seal chamber that correspond with inspiration and expiration are an expected and normal finding. A nurse caring for a client with a chest tube should monitor the client's respiratory status and vital signs, check the dressing, and maintain the patency and integrity of the drainage system.

A nurse assessing a client's respiratory status gets a weak signal from the pulse oximeter. The client's other vital signs are within reference ranges. What is the nurse's best action?

Warm the client's hands and try again. Explanation: Finding an absent or weak signal, the nurse should check vital signs and client condition. If satisfactory, warming the extremity may facilitate a stronger reading. This should be attempted prior to resorting to using the client's earlobe. Bright light can interfere with the operation of light sensors and cause an unreliable report. A blood pressure cuff will compromise venous blood flow to the site leading to inaccurate readings.

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 Explanation: Distilled water is used when humidification is desired. Other answers are incorrect.

An older adult client is visibly pale with a respiratory rate of 30 breaths per minute. Upon questioning, the client states to 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. Explanation: Pulse oximetry readings are reflective of the number of available oxygen receptors on hemoglobin molecules. Consequently, an acceptable reading in a client with low hemoglobin can be artificially inflated. Age, blood pH, and electrolyte levels do not have a direct bearing on the accuracy and clinical application of pulse oximetry.

A nurse is assigned to care for a client admitted to the health care facility with the diagnosis of atelectasis. When interviewing the client, the nurse would anticipate a history of:

pneumonia. Explanation: Pneumonia, which causes the lungs to swell and stiffen, can lead to atelectasis. Stiffer lungs tend to collapse, and their alveoli also collapse. Consequently, the amount of space available for gas exchange in the lungs decreases. Croup, asthma, and alcohol use do not lead to atelectasis. Croup, which is common young children, is a condition that obstructs upper airways by swelling the throat tissues. Asthma causes the small airways to become inflamed and narrowed. Alcohol use depresses the central respiratory center.

A client returns to the telemetry unit after an operative procedure. Which diagnostic test will the nurse perform to monitor the effectiveness of the oxygen therapy ordered for the client?

pulse oximetry Explanation: Pulse oximetry is useful for monitoring clients receiving oxygen therapy, titrating oxygen therapy, monitoring those at risk for hypoxia, and postoperative clients. Peak expiratory flow rate is used to monitor severe respiratory diseases and the degree of disease control. Spirometry is used in the postoperative period to measure the volume of air in liters exhaled or inhaled. Spirometry also evaluates lung function and airway obstruction but does not specifically monitor the effectiveness of oxygen therapy. Thoracentesis is a procedure that allows the health care provider to aspirate pleural fluid for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

A nurse suctioning a client through a tracheostomy tube should be careful not to occlude the Y-port when inserting the suction catheter because it would cause what condition to occur?

trauma to the tracheal mucosa Explanation: Occluding the Y-port on the suction tubing is what creates the suction. While suctioning would be difficult but possible, suctioning while advancing the tube would damage the tracheal mucosa and remove excessive amounts of oxygen, not carbon dioxide, from the respiratory tract. Suctioning during insertion of the catheter would not compromise sterility.

A nurse assessing a client's respiratory effort notes that the client's breaths are shallow and 8 per minute. Shortly after, the client's respirations cease. Which form of oxygen delivery should the nurse use for this client?

Ambu bag Explanation: If the client is not breathing with an adequate rate and depth, or if the client has lost the respiratory drive, a manual resuscitation bag (Ambu bag) may be used to deliver oxygen until the client is resuscitated or can be intubated with an endotracheal tube. Oxygen masks may cover only the nose and mouth and can vary in the amount of oxygen delivered. A nasal oxygen cannula is a device that consists of a plastic tube that fits behind the ears, and a set of two prongs that are placed in the nostril. An oxygen tent is a tentlike enclosure within which the air supply can be enriched with oxygen to aid a client's breathing. Oxygen masks, nasal cannula, and oxygen tents are used for clients who have a respiratory drive.

The nurse auscultates a client with soft, high-pitched popping breath sounds on inspiration. The nurse will document what breath sounds?

Crackles Explanation: Crackles, frequently heard on inspiration, are soft, high-pitched discontinuous (intermittent) popping sounds. Wheezes are continuous musical sounds, produced as air passes through airways constricted by swelling, narrowing, secretions, or tumors. Vesicular sounds are low-pitched, soft sounds heard over peripheral lung fields. Bronchovesicular sounds are medium-pitched blowing sounds heard over the major bronchi.

The nurse is caring for an older adult homebound client with advanced respiratory disease whose has inadequate nutrition. What recommendation will the nurse provide?

Provide suggestions of high-protein, high-calorie meals Explanation: TThe client should have sufficient caloric and protein intake for respiratory muscle strength, so promotion of a high-calorie, high-protein diet is appropriate. Protein shakes and dietary supplements may be appropriate but should complement, rather than replace, meals. Intermittent fasting promotes weight loss, not increased calorie intake.

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 Explanation: 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.

A parents brings their 2-year-old to the emergency department in respiratory distress. The child's oxygen saturation is 81% and there is audible stridor. What intervention will the nurse anticipate?

Placement in an oxygen tent Explanation: Stridor often accompanies croup in young children. Due to the child's age, an oxygen tent would be an appropriate oxygen delivery device. The child is too young for metered-dose inhalers or deep breathing and coughing exercises.

Which guideline is recommended for determining suction catheter depth when suctioning an endotracheal tube?

Using a suction catheter with centimeter increments on it, insert the suction catheter into the endotracheal tube until the centimeter markings on both the endotracheal tube and catheter align, and insert the suction catheter no further than an additional 1 cm. Explanation: Guidelines to determine suction catheter depth include the following: Using a suction catheter with centimeter increments on it, insert the suction catheter into the endotracheal tube until the centimeter markings on both the endotracheal tube and catheter align, and insert the suction catheter no further than an additional 1 cm past the length of the endotracheal tube. Combine the length of the endotracheal tube and any adapter being used, and add an additional 1 cm. Using a spare endotracheal or tracheostomy tube of the same size as being used for the client, insert the suction catheter to the end of the tube and note the length of catheter used to reach the end of the tube. For a closed system, combine the length of the endotracheal or tracheostomy tube and any adapter being used, and add an additional 1 cm.

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 Explanation: Vesicular breath sounds are normal and described as low-pitched, soft sounds over the lungs' peripheral fields. Crackles are soft, high-pitched, discontinuous popping sounds heard on inspiration. Medium-pitched blowing sounds heard over the major bronchi describe bronchovesicular breath sounds. Bronchial breath sounds are loud, high-pitched sounds heard over the trachea and larynx.

A client has been put on oxygen therapy because of low oxygen saturation levels in the blood. What should the nurse use to regulate the amount of oxygen delivered to the client?

flow meter Explanation: The nurse should use a flow meter to regulate the amount of oxygen delivered to the client. A flow meter is a gauge used to regulate the amount of oxygen delivered to the client and is attached to the source of oxygen. An oxygen analyzer is a device that measures the percentage of delivered oxygen to determine if the client is receiving the amount prescribed by the health care provider. An adhesive nasal strip increases the nasal diameter and promotes easier breathing. A nasal cannula is a hollow tube used for delivering a small concentration of oxygen. However, these devices are not used to regulate the amount of oxygen delivered to the client.

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 Explanation: Arterial blood gases include the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, and pH. Blood gases determine the adequacy of alveolar gas exchange and the ability of the lungs and kidneys to maintain the acid-base balance of body fluids.

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) Explanation: During a pulmonary function test the amount of air left in the lungs at the end of maximal expiration is called residual volume. Tidal volume refers to the 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. 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.

A nurse is admitting a 6-year-old child after a tonsillectomy to the surgical unit. The nurse obtains the client's weight and places electrocardiogram (EKG) leads on the chest and a pulse oximeter on the left finger. The client's heart rate reads 100 bpm and the pulse oximeter reads 99%. These readings best indicate:

adequate tissue perfusion. Explanation: Pulse oximetry is often used as a measure of tissue perfusion. An oxygen saturation of greater than 94% is typically indicative of good tissue perfusion.

What assessments would a nurse make when auscultating the lungs?

air flow through the respiratory passages Explanation: Auscultation of the lungs assesses air flow through the respiratory passages and lungs. The nurse listens for normal, as well as abnormal, breath sounds. Abnormal chest structures would be assessed when inspecting the chest and thoracic region. Presence of edema would be assessed as part of the cardiovascular status of the client. Volume of air exhaled and inhaled would be performed during a pulmonary function test.