Nokea
A nurse has been asked to give a workshop on COPD for a local community group. The nurse emphasizes the importance of smoking cessation because smoking has what pathophysiologic effect?
- A. Increases the amount of mucus production
- B. Destabilizes hemoglobin
- C. Shrinks the alveoli in the lungs
- D. Collapses the alveoli in the lungs
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Smoking irritates the goblet cells and mucous glands, causing an increased accumulation of mucus, which, in turn, produces more irritation, infection, and damage to the lung.
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An interdisciplinary team is planning the care of a patient with bronchiectasis. What aspects of care should the nurse anticipate?
- A. Occupational therapy
- B. Antimicrobial therapy
- C. Positive pressure isolation
- D. Chest physiotherapy
- E. Smoking cessation
Correct Answer: B,D,E
Rationale: Chest physiotherapy, antibiotics, and smoking cessation are cornerstones of the care of patients with bronchiectasis. Occupational therapy and isolation are not normally indicated.
A nurse is caring for a young adult patient whose medical history includes an alpha-antitrypsin deficiency. This deficiency predisposes the patient to what health problem?
- A. Pulmonary edema
- B. Lobular emphysema
- C. Cystic fibrosis (CF)
- D. Empyema
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A host risk factor for COPD is a deficiency of alpha-antitrypsin, an enzyme inhibitor that protects the lung parenchyma from injury. This deficiency predisposes young patients to rapid development of lobular emphysema even in the absence of smoking. This deficiency does not influence the patients risk of pulmonary edema, CF, or empyema.
A nurse is working with a child who is undergoing a diagnostic workup for suspected asthma. What are the signs and symptoms that are consistent with a diagnosis of asthma?
- A. Chest tightness
- B. Crackles
- C. Bradypnea
- D. Wheezing
- E. Cough
Correct Answer: A,D,E
Rationale: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that causes airway hyperresponsiveness, mucosal edema, and mucus production. This inflammation ultimately leads to recurrent episodes of asthma symptoms: cough, chest tightness, wheezing, and dyspnea. Crackles and bradypnea are not typical symptoms of asthma.
An asthma nurse educator is working with a group of adolescent asthma patients. What intervention is most likely to prevent asthma exacerbations among these patients?
- A. Encouraging patients to carry a corticosteroid rescue inhaler at all times
- B. Educating patients about recognizing and avoiding asthma triggers
- C. Teaching patients to utilize alternative therapies in asthma management
- D. Ensuring that patients keep their immunizations up to date
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Asthma exacerbations are best managed by early treatment and education, including the use of written action plans as part of any overall effort to educate patients about self-management techniques, especially those with moderate or severe persistent asthma or with a history of severe exacerbations. Corticosteroids are not used as rescue inhalers. Alternative therapies are not normally a high priority, though their use may be appropriate in some cases. Immunizations should be kept up to date, but this does not necessarily prevent asthma exacerbations.
The nurse is assessing a patient whose respiratory disease is characterized by chronic hyperinflation of the lungs. What would the nurse most likely assess in this patient?
- A. Signs of oxygen toxicity
- B. Chronic chest pain
- C. A barrel chest
- D. Long, thin fingers
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In COPD patients with a primary emphysematous component, chronic hyperinflation leads to the barrel chest thorax configuration. The nurse most likely would not assess chest pain or long, thin fingers; these are not characteristic of emphysema. The patient would not show signs of oxygen toxicity unless he or she received excess supplementary oxygen.