HESI Medical Surgical Specialty Exam Related

Review HESI Medical Surgical Specialty Exam related questions and content

A client has just returned to the nursing unit after bronchoscopy. To which intervention should the nurse give priority?

  • A. Assessing the client for the return of the gag reflex
  • B. Administering pain medication
  • C. Encouraging copious fluid intake
  • D. Ambulating the client
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: After bronchoscopy, the priority intervention for the nurse is to assess the client for the return of the gag reflex. This assessment is crucial to ensure the client's safety and prevent aspiration. Keeping the client on nothing-by-mouth status until the gag reflex returns is essential. Administering pain medication, encouraging fluid intake, and ambulating the client are important interventions but assessing the gag reflex takes precedence due to the risk of aspiration post-bronchoscopy.