ATI Fundamental Proctored Exam 2024-2025 Online Practice 250 Simulated Exam Questions Related

Review ATI Fundamental Proctored Exam 2024-2025 Online Practice 250 Simulated Exam Questions related questions and content

A nurse is caring for a client who has pneumonia. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to thin the client's respiratory secretions?

  • A. Encourage the client to ambulate more often.
  • B. Encourage coughing and deep breathing.
  • C. Encourage the client to drink more fluids.
  • D. Encourage regular use of the incentive spirometer.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Encourage the client to drink more fluids. Increased fluid intake helps to thin respiratory secretions, making it easier for the client to cough them up and clear the airways. This action promotes effective airway clearance and reduces the risk of complications such as pneumonia worsening. Encouraging ambulation (A) is beneficial for overall lung health but does not directly address thinning of respiratory secretions. While coughing and deep breathing (B) are important for clearing secretions, increasing fluids is more effective in thinning them. Using the incentive spirometer (D) helps with lung expansion but does not directly thin secretions.