ATI Capstone Exam 1 Related

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A nurse is caring for a client who has acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and requires mechanical ventilation. The client receives a prescription for pancuronium. The nurse recognizes that this medication is for which of the following purposes?

  • A. Induce sedation.
  • B. Suppress respiratory effort.
  • C. Decrease chest wall compliance.
  • D. Decrease respiratory secretions.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Suppress respiratory effort. Pancuronium is a neuromuscular blocking agent that paralyzes skeletal muscles, including the muscles involved in breathing. In ARDS, the client may have difficulty breathing due to lung damage, so pancuronium can be used to facilitate mechanical ventilation by preventing respiratory muscle movement. This allows the ventilator to control the client's breathing without interference. The other choices are incorrect because pancuronium does not induce sedation (A), affect chest wall compliance (C), or decrease respiratory secretions (D). It solely works to suppress respiratory effort by blocking neuromuscular transmission.