Ch. 22 Quizzes

A patient comes to the clinic with complaints of a sore throat and is diagnosed with acute pharyngitis. What does the nurse understand is the cause of acute pharyngitis?

Group A, beta-hemolytic streptococci Viral infection causes most cases of acute pharyngitis. Responsible viruses include the adenovirus, influenza virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and herpes simplex virus. Bacterial infection accounts for the remainder of cases. Ten percent of adults with pharyngitis have group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS), which is commonly referred to as group A streptococcus (GAS) or streptococcal pharyngitis. p. 561

A client comes into the clinic complaining of hoarseness that has lasted for about a month. What would you suspect?

-Laryngeal cancer Persistent hoarseness (longer than 2 weeks) is usually the earliest symptom. p. 572

A 76-year-old client presents to the ED reporting "laryngitis." The triage nurse should ask whether the client has a medical history that includes

GERD The nurse should ask whether the client has a medical history of GERD. Laryngitis is common in older adults and may be secondary to GERD. Older adults are more likely to have impaired esophageal peristalsis and a weaker esophageal sphincter. COPD, CHF, and RF are not associated with laryngitis in the older adult. p. 553

A client is being discharged from an outpatient surgery center following a tonsillectomy. What instruction should the nurse give to the client?

"Gargle with a warm salt solution." A warm saline solution will help with removal of thick mucus and halitosis. It will be a gentle gargle, because a vigorous gargle may cause bleeding. A sore throat may be present for 3 to 5 days. Hot foods should be avoided. p. 564

A patient is diagnosed as being in the early stage of laryngeal cancer of the glottis with only 1 vocal cord involved. For what type of surgical intervention will the nurse plan to provide education?

Partial laryngectomy A partial laryngectomy (laryngofissure-thyrotomy) is often used for patients in the early stages of cancer in the glottis area when only one vocal cord is involved. p. 573

Which nursing diagnosis is most likely for a client who has just undergone a total laryngectomy?

impaired verbal communication Loss of the ability to speak normally is a devastating consequence of laryngeal surgery and is certain with a total laryngectomy. Issues with self-esteem and deficient knowledge are possible, but less certain. Infection is a risk, but not a certainty. p. 574

A client with thrombocytopenia, secondary to leukemia, develops epistaxis. The nurse should instruct the client to:

sit upright, leaning slightly forward. Sitting upright and leaning slightly forward avoids increasing vascular pressure in the nose and helps the client avoid aspirating blood. Lying supine won't prevent aspiration of the blood. Nose blowing can dislodge any clotting that has occurred. Bending at the waist increases vascular pressure in the nose and promotes bleeding rather than halting it. p. 569

The nurse is discussing immediate postoperative communication strategies with a client scheduled for a total laryngectomy. What information will the nurse include?

"You can use writing or a communication board to communicate." If a total laryngectomy is scheduled, the client must understand that the natural voice will be lost but special training can provide a means for communicating. The client needs to know that until training is started, communication will be possible using the call light, through writing, or using a special communication board. The use of an electronic device is a long-term postoperative goal. The speech therapist will evaluate the client before surgery and establish a method of immediate postoperative communication. p. 575

The nurse is caring for a client who is demonstrating signs of increased respiratory distress related to laryngeal obstruction. The nurse is calling the physician to report on the client's condition. Which of the following will the nurse report? Select all that apply.

-Arterial blood gases reporting a PaCO2 of 48 and a PaO2 of 84 -Nasal flaring with abdominal retractions -Lung sounds of wheezing -Increased respiratory effort The nurse would be calling to report signs of respiratory distress. This includes nasal flaring with abdominal retractions, stridor and an increased respiratory effort. Also arterial blood gases with an elevated CO2 and lower oxygen level indicates respiratory compromise. An increased respiratory rate occurs in respiratory compromise. Administration of a corticosteroid decreases inflammation over a period of time. p. 572

The nurse is assessing a patient who smokes 2 packs of cigarettes per day and has a strong family history of cancer. What early sign of cancer of the larynx does the nurse look for in this patient?

Affected voice sounds Hoarseness of more than 2 weeks' duration occurs in the patient with cancer in the glottic area because the tumor impedes the action of the vocal cords during speech. The voice may sound harsh, raspy, and lower in pitch. Affected voice sounds are not always early signs of subglottic or supraglottic cancer, however. The patient may complain of a persistent cough or sore throat and pain and burning in the throat, especially when consuming hot liquids or citrus juices. A lump may be felt in the neck. Later symptoms include dysphagia, dyspnea (difficulty breathing), unilateral nasal obstruction or discharge, persistent hoarseness, persistent ulceration, and foul breath p. 572

A client has been diagnosed with acute rhinosinusitis caused by a bacterial organism. What antibiotic of choice for treatment of this disorder does the nurse anticipate educating the client about?

Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid Treatment of acute rhinosinusitis depends on the cause; a 5- to 7-day course of antibiotics is prescribed for bacterial cases. Antibiotics should be administered as soon as the diagnosis of ABRS is established. Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid ( Augmentin) is the antibiotic of choice. Other antibiotics prescribed previously to treat ABRS, including cephalosporins such as cephalexin (Keflex), cefuroxime (Ceftin), cefaclor (Ceclor), and cefixime (Suprax), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra), and macrolides such as clarithromycin (Biaxin) and azithromycin (Zithromax), are no longer recommended because they are not effective in treating antibiotic-resistant organisms that are now more commonly implicated in ABRS. p. 557

A first-line antibiotic used to treat acute rhinosinusitis is

Ampicillin First-line antibiotics include amoxicillin, ampicillin, and erythromycin. Second-line therapy includes cefuroxime, cefprozil, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. p. 557

The nurse assesses a client who is bleeding profusely from the nose. The nurse documents this finding as which condition?

epistaxis Epistaxis is due to rupture of tiny, distended vessels in the mucous membrane of any area of the nose. Xerostomia refers to dryness of the mouth. Rhinorrhea refers to drainage of a large amount of fluid from the nose. Dysphagia refers to difficulties swallowing. p. 569

The nurse is caring for a client admitted to the ED with an uncomplicated nasal fracture. Nasal packing has been put in place. Which intervention should the nurse include in the client's care?

Apply an ice pack Following a nasal fracture, the nurse applies ice and encourages the client to keep the head elevated. The nurse instructs the client to apply ice packs to the nose to decrease swelling. The packing inserted to stop the bleeding may be uncomfortable and unpleasant, and obstruction of the nasal passages by the packing forces the client to breathe through the mouth. This, in turn, causes the oral mucous membranes to become dry. Mouth rinses help to moisten the mucous membranes and to reduce the odor and taste of dried blood in the oropharynx and nasopharynx. Applying direct pressure is not indicated in this situation. p. 571

A client reports nasal congestion, sneezing, sore throat, and coughing up of yellow mucus. The nurse assesses the client's temperature as 100.2°F. The client states this is the third episode this season. The highest priority nursing diagnosis is

Ineffective airway clearance related to excess mucus production All the listed nursing diagnoses are appropriate for this client. Following Maslow's hierarchy of needs, physiological needs are addressed first and, within physiological needs, airway, breathing, and circulation are the most immediate. Thus, ineffective airway clearance is the priority nursing diagnosis. p. 565

The nurse is caring for a client who underwent a laryngectomy. Which intervention will the nurse initially complete in an effort to meet the client's nutritional needs?

Initiate enteral feedings. Postoperatively, the client may not be permitted to eat or drink for at least 7 days. Alternative sources of nutrition and hydration include IV fluids, enteral feedings through a nasogastric or gastrostomy tube, and parenteral nutrition. Once the client is permitted to resume oral feedings, thick liquids are offered; sweet foods are avoided because they cause increased salivation and decrease the client's appetite. The client's taste sensations are altered for a while after surgery because inhaled air passes directly into the trachea, bypassing the nose and the olfactory end organs. In time, however, the client usually accommodates to this change and olfactory sensation adapts; thus, seasoning is based on personal preferences p. 577

Your client has a history of hoarseness lasting longer than 2 weeks. The client is now complaining of feeling a lump in their throat. What would you suspect this client has?

Laryngeal cancer Later, the client notes a sensation of swelling or a lump in the throat, followed by dysphagia and pain when talking. Hoarseness is not indicative of pharyngeal cancer; laryngeal polyps; or cancer of the tonsils. p. 572

A client has acute bacterial rhinosinusitis for several weeks despite treatment. The nurse observes for a possible complication of the infection by assessing for

Nuchal Rigidity Potential complications of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis are nuchal rigidity and severe headache. Hypertension may be a result of over-the-counter decongestant medications. Nausea may be a result of nasal corticosteroids. p. 558

A client is visiting the emergency department because of massive bleeding from the nose that will not stop. Blood is on the client's shirt, and bleeding from the nose continues. The nurse intervenes by

Telling the client to sit upright with the head tilted forward Hemorrhage or massive bleeding from the nose is called epistaxis. Initial interventions include having the client sit upright with the head tilted forward to prevent swallowing and aspiration of blood. Tilting the head back will encourage the client to swallow and possibly aspirate blood. Pressure is applied to the soft outer portion of the nose against the midline septum, not the upper and hard portion of the nose. Pressure is also applied continuously for 5 to 10 minutes. p. 569

The nurse is caring for a client in the physician's office with a potential sinus infection. The physician orders a diagnostic test to identify if fluid is found in the sinus cavity. Which diagnostic test, written by the physician, is specifically ordered for this purpose?

Transillumination of the sinus Transillumination and x-rays of the sinuses may show a change in the shape of or confirms that there is fluid in the sinus cavity. CBC with differential can note an elevated white blood cell count but not confirm fluid in the sinus cavity. A nasal culture can note bacteria in the nares. An MRI is an expensive procedure which is not typically prescribed for a potential infection and not specifically ordered to identify fluid in the sinus cavity. p. 557

While caring for a patient with an endotracheal tube the nurse recognizes that suctioning is required:

When adventitious breath sounds are auscultated It is usually necessary to suction the patient's secretions because of the decreased effectiveness of the cough mechanism. Tracheal suctioning is performed when adventitious breath sounds are detected or whenever secretions are present. Unnecessary suctioning, such as scheduling every 2 hours, can initiate bronchospasm and cause trauma to the tracheal mucosa.