A 72 year-old male patient who is diagnosed with bilateral lower lobe pneumonia is admitted to your unit. The patient has a history of systolic heart failure and arthritis. On assessment, you note the patient has a respiratory rate of 21 , oxygen saturation $93 \%$ on $2 \mathrm{~L}$ nasal cannula, is alert & oriented, and has a productive cough with green/yellowish sputum. Which of the following nursing interventions will you provide to this patient based on your assessment findings and the patient's diagnosis? Select-all-that-apply:
- A. Keep head-of-the-bed less than 30 degrees at all times.
- B. Collect sputum cultures.
- C. Encourage 3L of fluids a day to keep secretions thin.
- D. Encourage incentive spirometer usage
- E. Provide education about receiving the Pneumovax vaccine annually.
Correct Answer: B,D
Rationale: Sputum cultures identify the causative organism, and incentive spirometer use promotes lung expansion. Head-of-bed <30 degrees increases aspiration risk, 3L fluids may overload heart failure patients, and Pneumovax is not annual.
You may also like to solve these questions
An alarm beeps notifying you that one of your patient's oxygen saturation is reading $89 \%$. You arrive to the patient's room, and see the patient comfortably resting in bed watching television. The patient is already on $2 \mathrm{~L}$ of oxygen via nasal cannula. The patient is admitted for COPD exacerbation. Your next nursing action would be:
- A. Continue to monitor the patient
- B. Increase the patient's oxygen level to $3 \mathrm{~L}$
- C. Notify the doctor for further orders
- D. Turn off the alarm settings
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In COPD, oxygen saturation of 88-92% is acceptable to avoid suppressing the hypoxic drive. Since the patient is comfortable, continue monitoring . Increasing oxygen or notifying the doctor is unnecessary unless symptoms worsen.
Which task is most appropriate for the nurse to delegate to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
- A. Feed a client who is postoperative tonsillectomy the first meal of clear liquids.
- B. Encourage the client diagnosed with a cold to drink a glass of orange juice.
- C. Obtain a throat culture on a client diagnosed with bacterial pharyngitis.
- D. Escort the client diagnosed with laryngitis outside to smoke a cigarette.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Encouraging juice intake (B) is within UAP scope and safe. Feeding post-tonsillectomy (A) risks bleeding, throat cultures (C) require training, and smoking (D) is contraindicated.
You're educating a patient how to use a peak flow meter to help monitor the status of their asthma. Which statement by the patient demonstrates they understand how to use the device?
- A. This device will help keep my lungs strong so I don't have another asthma attack.
- B. I will inhale as hard as I can while using the device.
- C. I will use this device at the same time, either in the morning or before bedtime, and compare the readings with my personal best reading.
- D. I will notify the doctor if my peak flow rating is 90% or more than my personal best peak flow.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct use involves measuring peak flow at consistent times and comparing to personal best to monitor asthma control. Inhaling is incorrect, and a high reading is not a concern.
Which instruction regarding the prescribed medication is most appropriate to tell this client?
- A. Do not take the drug more frequently than prescribed.
- B. Avoid taking the medication before going to sleep.
- C. Drink more fluid throughout the day.
- D. Warm the cough syrup to make it more palatable.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Drinking more fluids enhances the expectorant effect of guaifenesin, helping to thin and expel mucus.
If the client develops a severe allergic reaction, which drug should the nurse have available?
- A. Codeine sulfate
- B. Morphine sulfate (Roxanol)
- C. Dopamine (Intropin)
- D. Epinephrine (Adrenalin)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) as it reverses airway constriction and stabilizes blood pressure.