Ch. 21 quizzes

A client who must begin oxygen therapy asks the nurse why this treatment is necessary? What would the nurse identify as the goals of oxygen therapy? Select all that apply.

-To reduce stress on the myocardium -To provide adequate transport of oxygen in the blood -To decrease the work of breathing Oxygen therapy is designed to provide adequate transport of oxygen in the blood while decreasing the work of breathing and reducing stress on the myocardium. Incentive spirometry is a respiratory modality that provides visual feedback to encourage the client to inhale slowly and deeply to maximize lung inflation and prevent or reduce atelectasis. A mini-nebulizer is used to help clear secretions. -p. 516

A client on long-term mechanical ventilation becomes very frustrated when he tries to communicate. Which intervention should the nurse perform to assist the client?

Ask the client to write, use a picture board, or spell words with an alphabet board. If the client uses an alternative method of communication, such as writing, using a picture board, or spelling words on an alphabet board, he'll feel more in control and be less frustrated. Assuring the client that everything will be all right offers false reassurance and telling him not to be upset minimizes his feelings. Neither of these methods helps the client to communicate. Family members are also likely to encounter difficulty interpreting the wishes of a client with an endotracheal tube or tracheostomy tube. Making them responsible for interpreting the client's gestures may frustrate them. The client may be weaned off a mechanical ventilator only when the physiologic parameters for weaning have been met. p. 534

Which is an adverse reaction that would require the process of weaning from a ventilator to be terminated?

Blood pressure increase of 20 mm Hg Criteria for terminating the weaning process include heart rate increase of 20 beats/min and systolic blood pressure increase of 20 mm Hg. A normal vital capacity is 10 to 15 mL/kg. -p. 535

Which type of oxygen therapy includes the administration of oxygen at pressure greater than atmospheric pressure?

Hyperbaric Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is the administration of oxygen at pressures greater than atmospheric pressure. As a result, the amount of oxygen dissolved in plasma is increased, which increases oxygen levels in the tissues. Low-flow systems contribute partially to the inspired gas the client breathes, which means that the client breathes some room air along with the oxygen. High-flow systems are indicated for clients who require a constant and precise amount of oxygen. During transtracheal oxygenation, clients achieve adequate oxygenation at lower rates, making this method less expensive and more efficient. -p. 515

The nurse is assessing a patient with chest tubes connected to a drainage system. What should the first action be when the nurse observes excessive bubbling in the water seal chamber?

Notify the physician Observe for air leaks in the drainage system; they are indicated by constant bubbling in the water seal chamber, or by the air leak indicator in dry systems with a one-way valve. In addition, assess the chest tube system for correctable external leaks. Notify the primary provider immediately of excessive bubbling in the water seal chamber not due to external leaks. -p. 542

Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) therapy has which effect on the heart?

Reduced cardiac output PEEP reduces cardiac output by increasing intrathoracic pressure and reducing the amount of blood delivered to the left side of the heart. It doesn't affect heart rate, but a decrease in cardiac output may reduce blood pressure, commonly causing compensatory tachycardia, not bradycardia. However, the resulting tachycardia isn't a direct effect of PEEP therapy itself. -p. 512

A client is being mechanically ventilated in the ICU. The ventilator alarms begin to sound. The nurse should complete which action first?

Troubleshoot to identify the malfunction. The nurse should first immediately attempt to identify and correct the problem; if the problem cannot be identified and/or corrected, the client must be manually ventilated with an Ambu bag. The respiratory therapist may be notified, but this is not the first action by the nurse. The nurse should not reposition the endotracheal tube as a first response to an alarm. -p. 534

An adult client with cystic fibrosis is admitted to an acute care facility with an acute respiratory infection. Ordered respiratory treatment includes chest physiotherapy. When should the nurse perform this procedure?

-at bedtime The nurse should perform chest physiotherapy at bedtime to reduce secretions in the client's lungs during the night. Performing it immediately before a meal may tire the client and impair the ability to eat. Percussion and vibration, components of chest physiotherapy, may worsen bronchospasms; therefore, the procedure is contraindicated in clients with bronchospasms. Secretions that have mobilized (especially when suction equipment isn't available) are a contraindication for postural drainage, another component of chest physiotherapy. -p. 517

The nurse received a client from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) who has a chest tube to a closed drainage system. Report from the PACU nurse included drainage in the chest tube at 80 mL of bloody fluid. Fifteen minutes after transfer from the PACU, the chest tube indicates drainage as pictured. The client is reporting pain at "8" on a scale of 0 to 10. The first action of the nurse is to:

Assess pulse and BP The client has bled 120 mL of bloody drainage in the chest drainage system within 15 minutes. It is most important for the nurse to assess for signs and symptoms of hemorrhage, which may be indicated by a rapid pulse and decreasing blood pressure. The nurse may then lay the client in a flat position and notify the physician. p. 541

A nurse is attempting to wean a client after 2 days on the mechanical ventilator. The client has an endotracheal tube present with the cuff inflated to 15 mm Hg. The nurse has suctioned the client with return of small amounts of thin white mucus. Lung sounds are clear. Oxygen saturation levels are 91%. What is the priority nursing diagnosis for this client?

Impaired gas exchange related to ventilator setting adjustments All the nursing diagnoses are appropriate for this client. Per Maslow's hierarchy of needs, airway, breathing, and circulation are the highest priorities within physiological needs. The client has an oxygen saturation of 91%, which is below normal. This places impaired gas exchange as the highest prioritized nursing diagnosis. p. 531

A client abruptly sits up in bed, reports having difficulty breathing and has an arterial oxygen saturation of 88%. Which oxygen delivery method would give the greatest level of inspired oxygen?

Nonrebreather mask A nonrebreather mask can deliver levels of the fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) as high as 100%. Other modes — simple mask, face tent, and nasal cannula — deliver lower levels of FIO2. p. 514

A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube. If the chest drainage system is accidentally disconnected, what should the nurse plan to do?

Place the end of the chest tube in a container of sterile saline. If a chest drainage system is disconnected, the nurse may place the end of the chest tube in a container of sterile saline or water to prevent air from entering the chest tube, thereby preventing negative respiratory pressure. The nurse should apply an occlusive dressing if the chest tube is pulled out — not if the system is disconnected. The nurse shouldn't clamp the chest tube because clamping increases the risk of tension pneumothorax. The nurse should tape the chest tube securely to prevent it from being disconnected, rather than taping it after it has been disconnected. p. 519

Which range of water pressure within the endotracheal tube cuff is believed to prevent both injury and aspiration?

15-20 mmHg. Usually the pressure is maintained at <25 mmHG water pressure to prevent injury and at >20 mm HG water pressure to prevent aspiration. High cuff pressure can cause tracheal bleeding, ischemia, and pressure necrosis, whereas low cuff pressure can increase the risk of aspiration pneumonia. A water pressure of 0-5 or 10-15 mm Hg would indicate that the cuff is underinflated. A water pressure of 30-35 mm Hg would indicate that the cuff is overinflated. p. 542

The nurse hears the patient's ventilator alarm sound and attempts to find the cause. What is the priority action of the nurse when the cause of the alarm is not able to be determined?

Disconnect the patient from the ventilator and manually ventilate the patient with a manual resuscitation bag until the problem is resolved. If the cause of an alarm cannot be determined, the nurse should disconnect the patient from the ventilator and manually ventilate the patient, because leaving the patient on the mechanical ventilator may be dangerous. -.p. 529

After suctioning a tracheostomy tube, the nurse assesses the client to determine the effectiveness of the suctioning. Which findings indicate that the airway is now patent?

Effective breathing at a rate of 16 breaths/minute through the established airway Proper suctioning should produce a patent airway, as demonstrated by effective breathing through the airway at a normal respiratory rate of 12 to 20 breaths/minute. The other options suggest ineffective suctioning. A respiratory rate of 28 breaths/minute and accessory muscle use may indicate mild respiratory distress. Increased pulse rate, rapid respirations, and cyanosis are signs of hypoxia. Restlessness, pallor, increased pulse and respiratory rates, and bubbling breath sounds indicate respiratory secretion accumulation. -p. 532

A client is postoperative and prescribed an incentive spirometer (IS). The nurse instructs the client to:

Expect coughing when using the spirometer properly. When using an incentive spirometer, the client should be sitting or in the semi-Fowler's position. The client is to inhale, hold the breath for about 3 seconds, and then exhale slowly. Coughing occurs with the use of the incentive spirometer and is encouraged. The client should use the spirometer 10 times every hour while awake. p. 516

A nurse is caring for a client who was intubated because of respiratory failure. The client is now receiving mechanical ventilation with a preset tidal volume and number of breaths each minute. The client has the ability to breathe spontaneously between the ventilator breaths with no ventilator assistance. The nurse should document the ventilator setting as:

synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV). In SIMV mode, the ventilator delivers a preset number of breaths at a preset tidal volume. The client can breathe on his own in between the breaths delivered by the ventilator. In PSV, a pressure plateau is added to the ventilator to prevent the airway pressure from falling beneath a preset level. In AC ventilation, the ventilator delivers a preset number of breaths at a preset tidal volume and any breaths that the client takes on his own are assisted by the ventilator so they reach the preset tidal volume. In CPAP, the ventilator provides only positive airway pressure; it doesn't provide any breaths to the client. -page 528