A client had a tracheostomy two hours ago. The nurse assesses the client and finds the client's breathing is shallow, with a respiratory rate of 30 . The nurse notes increased mucus production around the tracheostomy and on the dressing. What is the priority nursing concern(s)? Select all that apply.
- A. Ineffective airway clearance
- B. Infection risk
- C. Knowledge deficiency
- D. Impaired gas exchange
- E. Altered body image perception
Correct Answer: A,D
Rationale: The client with a new tracheostomy tube has increased secretions, which may become dried and occlude or plug the airway, requiring frequent suctioning. Impaired gas exchange and airway clearance are priority nursing concerns. Infection, knowledge deficit, and altered body image are concerns, but not priorities.
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The nurse is providing tracheostomy care for a client. Place the following steps in the order the nurse should perform them.
- A. Position client in a supine or low Fowler position.
- B. Using a clean glove, remove the soiled stomal dressing and discard it, glove and all, in an appropriate receptacle.
- C. Open the tracheostomy kit without contaminating the contents. Don sterile gloves- keep the dominant hand sterile. Pour hydrogen peroxide and normal saline into respective containers.
- D. Unlock the inner cannula by turning it counterclockwise. Remove it and place in hydrogen peroxide. Clean the inside and outside of the cannula with pipe cleaners.
- E. Rinse the cleaned cannula with normal saline. Tap the cannula and wipe the excess solution with sterile gauze.
- F. Replace the inner cannula and turn it clockwise within the outer cannula.
- G. Clean around the stoma with an applicator moistened with normal saline.
Correct Answer: C,A,B,D,E,G,F
Rationale: The nurse should position client in a supine or low Fowler position. Using a clean glove, the nurse should remove the soiled stomal dressing and discard it, glove and all, in an appropriate receptacle. The nurse should then open the tracheostomy kit without contaminating the contents. The nurse should don sterile gloves, keeping the dominant hand sterile. Next, the nurse should pour hydrogen peroxide and normalsaline into respective containers. The nurse should then unlock the inner cannula by turning it counterclockwise, afterward removing it and placing it in hydrogen peroxide. The nurse should clean the inside and outside of the cannula with pipe cleaners. Next, the nurse should rinse the cleaned cannula with normal saline. The nurse should then tap the cannula and wipe the excess solution with sterile gauze. Next, the nurse should replace the inner cannula and turn it clockwise within the outer cannula. The nurseshould then clean around the stoma with an applicator moistened with normal saline.Next, the nurse should place a sterile dressing around the tracheostomy tube andchange the tracheostomy ties by placing the new ones on first and removing the soiled ones last. Finally, the nurse should tie the new ends securely, but not tightly, at theside of the neck. The nurse should perform hand hygiene before, during, and after the procedure.
The nurse is caring for the client in the intensive care unit immediately after removal of the endotracheal tube. Which of the following nursing actions is most important to complete every hour to ensure that the respiratory system is not compromised?
- A. Obtain vital signs.
- B. Monitor heart rhythm.
- C. Auscultate lung sounds.
- D. Assess capillary refill.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Major goals of intubation are to improve respirations and maintain a patent airway for gas exchange. Regular auscultation of the lung fields is essential in confirming that air is reaching the lung fields for gas exchange. All other options are important to provide assessment data.
A client comes into the emergency department with epistaxis. What intervention should the nurse perform when caring for a client with epistaxis?
- A. Apply a moustache dressing.
- B. Provide a nasal splint.
- C. Apply direct continuous pressure.
- D. Place the client in a semi-Fowler's position.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The severity and location of bleeding determine the treatment of a client with epistaxis. To manage this condition, the nurse should apply direct continuous pressure to the nares for 5 to 10 minutes with the client's head tilted slightly forward. Application of a moustache dressing or a drip pad to absorb drainage, application of a nasal splint, and placement of the client in a semi-Fowler's position are interventions related to the management of a client with a nasal obstruction.
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?
- A. CBC with differential
- B. Transillumination of the sinus
- C. Nasal culture
- D. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 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 thesinus cavity.
The nurse is mentoring a new graduate nurse and the two are caring for a client with a new tracheostomy. The new graduate nurse asks what the complications of tracheostomy are. Which complication(s) would the nurse identify for the new nurse? Select all that apply.
- A. Absence of secretions
- B. Aspiration
- C. Infection
- D. Injury to the laryngeal nerve
- E. Penetration of the anterior tracheal wall
Correct Answer: B,C,D
Rationale: The long-term and short-term complications of tracheostomy include infection, bleeding, airway obstruction resulting from hardened secretions, aspiration, injury to the laryngeal nerve, erosion of the trachea, fistula formation between the esophagus and trachea, and penetration of the posterior tracheal wall.
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