A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is receiving oxygen at 2 liters per minute by nasal cannula. The client develops respiratory distress and the nurse increases the oxygen to 4 liters per minute. Shortly afterward, the client becomes lethargic and confused. What action should the nurse take first?
- A. Reposition the nasal cannula
- B. Lower the oxygen rate
- C. Encourage the client to cough and deep breathe
- D. Monitor the client's oxygen saturation level
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Lower the oxygen rate. Increasing oxygen flow too quickly can lead to oxygen toxicity in COPD patients, causing symptoms like lethargy and confusion. Lowering the oxygen rate will help alleviate the symptoms and prevent further harm. Repositioning the nasal cannula (choice A) is not the priority in this situation. Encouraging coughing and deep breathing (choice C) may not address the immediate issue of oxygen toxicity. Monitoring oxygen saturation (choice D) is important but should follow lowering the oxygen rate to address the current symptoms.
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The nurse is planning care for a client receiving chemotherapy. Which intervention should the nurse include to manage the client's nausea?
- A. Administer an antiemetic before meals
- B. Provide frequent mouth care
- C. Encourage small, frequent meals
- D. Offer clear liquids
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Administer an antiemetic before meals. Administering an antiemetic before meals helps prevent and manage nausea associated with chemotherapy by blocking receptors that trigger nausea and vomiting. This intervention targets the root cause of the symptom. Providing frequent mouth care (B) may help with taste changes but does not directly address nausea. Encouraging small, frequent meals (C) and offering clear liquids (D) may be helpful for some clients, but they do not specifically target nausea caused by chemotherapy.
A 3-year-old boy is brought to the emergency center with dysphagia, drooling, a fever of 102°F, and stridor. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
- A. Place the child in a mist tent
- B. Obtain a sputum culture
- C. Prepare for an emergent tracheostomy
- D. Examine the child's oropharynx and report the findings to the healthcare provider
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Place the child in a mist tent. This intervention is crucial in managing a child with croup, which presents with stridor, fever, and respiratory distress. Placing the child in a mist tent provides humidified air, which can help reduce airway inflammation and ease breathing. It is the first-line treatment for croup and should be initiated promptly to relieve the child's symptoms. Obtaining a sputum culture (B) is not necessary in this scenario as the child's presentation is consistent with croup, which is a clinical diagnosis. Preparing for an emergent tracheostomy (C) is an invasive procedure that should only be considered if other treatments fail. Examining the child's oropharynx (D) can be helpful but is not the most urgent intervention in this situation.
A male client with diabetes mellitus takes Novolin 70/30 insulin before meals and azithromycin (Zithromax) PO daily, using medication he brought from home. When the nurse delivers his breakfast tray, the client tells the nurse that he took his insulin but forgot to take his daily dose of the Zithromax an hour before breakfast as instructed. What action should the nurse implement?
- A. Offer to obtain a new breakfast tray in an hour so the client can take the Zithromax
- B. Instruct the client to eat his breakfast and take the Zithromax two hours after eating
- C. Tell the client to skip that day's dose and resume taking the Zithromax the next day
- D. Provide a PRN dose of an antacid to take with the Zithromax right after breakfast
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Instruct the client to eat his breakfast and take the Zithromax two hours after eating. This is the correct action because azithromycin is best absorbed when taken on an empty stomach, but if the client has already eaten, it is recommended to wait at least 2 hours after a meal before taking it. This ensures optimal absorption and effectiveness of the medication.
Choice A is incorrect because it does not address the timing issue of taking azithromycin on an empty stomach. Choice C is incorrect as skipping a dose of an antibiotic can lead to treatment failure. Choice D is incorrect as antacids can interfere with the absorption of azithromycin and should not be taken together.
A 59-year-old male client is brought to the emergency room where he is assessed to have a Glasgow Coma Scale of 3. Based on this assessment, how should the nurse characterize the client's condition?
- A. The client is experiencing increased intracranial pressure
- B. He has a good prognosis for recovery
- C. This client is conscious, but is not oriented to time and place
- D. He is in a coma, and has a very poor prognosis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3 indicates deep unconsciousness, which is classified as a coma. A GCS score of 3 signifies the lowest possible level of consciousness and is associated with a very poor prognosis due to the severity of neurological impairment. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Increased intracranial pressure may be present in comatose patients but is not solely indicated by a GCS score of 3. A good prognosis is unlikely with a GCS score of 3. Being unconscious with a GCS score of 3 does not equate to being conscious but disoriented as in choice C.
The nurse is administering total parenteral nutrition (TPN) via a central line at 75 ml/hour to a client who had a bowel resection 4 days ago. Which laboratory finding requires the most immediate intervention by the nurse?
- A. Blood glucose of 140 mg/dL
- B. White blood cell count of 8000/mm³
- C. Serum potassium of 3.8 mEq/L
- D. Serum calcium of 7.8 mg/dL
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Serum calcium of 7.8 mg/dL. This finding indicates hypocalcemia, which can lead to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Low calcium levels can be caused by TPN administration or poor calcium absorption following bowel resection. Immediate intervention may include administering IV calcium gluconate.
A: Blood glucose of 140 mg/dL is within the normal range and not an immediate concern.
B: White blood cell count of 8000/mm³ is within the normal range and does not require immediate intervention.
C: Serum potassium of 3.8 mEq/L is within the normal range and does not pose an immediate threat.