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A patient has had a nasogastric tube in place for 6 days due to the development of paralytic ileus after surgery. In light of the prolonged presence of the nasogastric tube, the nurse should prioritize assessments related to what complication?
- A. Sinus infections
- B. Esophageal strictures
- C. Pharyngitis
- D. Laryngitis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Patients with nasotracheal and nasogastric tubes in place are at risk for development of sinus infections. Thus, accurate assessment of patients with these tubes is critical. Use of a nasogastric tube is not associated with the development of the other listed pathologies.
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The nurse is providing care for a patient who has just been admitted to the postsurgical unit following a laryngectomy. What assessment should the nurse prioritize?
- A. The patients swallowing ability
- B. The patients airway patency
- C. The patients carotid pulses
- D. Signs and symptoms of infection
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The patient with a laryngectomy is at risk for airway occlusion and respiratory distress. As in all nursing situations, assessment of the airway is a priority over other potential complications and assessment parameters.
A nurse practitioner has provided care for three different patients with chronic pharyngitis over the past several months. Which patients are at greatest risk for developing chronic pharyngitis?
- A. Patients who are habitual users of alcohol and tobacco
- B. Patients who are habitual users of caffeine and other stimulants
- C. Patients who eat a diet high in spicy foods
- D. Patients who have gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Chronic pharyngitis is common in adults who live and work in dusty surroundings, use the voice to excess, suffer from chronic cough, and habitually use alcohol and tobacco. Caffeine and spicy foods have not been linked to chronic pharyngitis. GERD is not a noted risk factor.
A patient comes to the ED and is admitted with epistaxis. Pressure has been applied to the patients midline septum for 10 minutes, but the bleeding continues. The nurse should anticipate using what treatment to control the bleeding?
- A. Irrigation with a hypertonic solution
- B. Nasopharyngeal suction
- C. Normal saline application
- D. Silver nitrate application
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: If pressure to the midline septum does not stop the bleeding for epistaxis, additional treatment of silver nitrate application, Gelfoam, electrocautery, or vasoconstrictors may be used. Suction may be used to visualize the nasal septum, but it does not alleviate the bleeding. Irrigation with a hypertonic solution is not used to treat epistaxis.
A patient states that her family has had several colds during this winter and spring despite their commitment to handwashing. The high communicability of the common cold is attributable to what factor?
- A. Cold viruses are increasingly resistant to common antibiotics.
- B. The virus is shed for 2 days prior to the emergence of symptoms.
- C. A genetic predisposition to viral rhinitis has recently been identified.
- D. Overuse of OTC cold remedies creates a rebound susceptibility to future colds.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Colds are highly contagious because virus is shed for about 2 days before the symptoms appear and during the first part of the symptomatic phase. Antibiotic resistance is not relevant to viral illnesses and OTC medications do not have a rebound effect. Genetic factors do not exist.
The nurse is creating a plan of care for a patient diagnosed with acute laryngitis. What intervention should be included in the patients plan of care?
- A. Place warm cloths on the patients throat, as needed.
- B. Have the patient inhale warm steam three times daily.
- C. Encourage the patient to limit speech whenever possible.
- D. Limit the patients fluid intake to 1.5 L/day.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Management of acute laryngitis includes resting the voice, avoiding irritants (including smoking), resting, and inhaling cool steam or an aerosol. Fluid intake should be increased. Warm cloths on the throat will not help relieve the symptoms of acute laryngitis.