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A 64-year-old patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is hospitalized with pneumonia. Which nursing action will be included in the plan of care?
- A. Assist with active range of motion (ROM).
- B. Observe for agitation and paranoia.
- C. Give muscle relaxants as needed to reduce spasms.
- D. Use simple words and phrases to explain procedures.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In a patient with ALS, progressive muscle weakness is a significant issue. Assisting with active range of motion (ROM) exercises will help maintain muscle strength for as long as possible. Agitation and paranoia are not typically associated with ALS, making choice B incorrect. Giving muscle relaxants can further weaken muscles and depress respirations, worsening the condition, so choice C is inappropriate. Choice D is not directly related to the patient's physical condition and needs.
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A patient with bacterial pneumonia has rhonchi and thick sputum. What is the nurse's most appropriate action to promote airway clearance?
- A. Assist the patient to splint the chest when coughing.
- B. Teach the patient about the need for fluid intake.
- C. Encourage the patient to wear the nasal oxygen cannula.
- D. Instruct the patient on the pursed lip breathing technique.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Assisting the patient to splint the chest when coughing is the most appropriate action to promote airway clearance in a patient with bacterial pneumonia, rhonchi, and thick sputum. Splinting the chest helps reduce pain during coughing and increases the effectiveness of clearing secretions. Teaching the patient about the need for fluid intake is important as it helps liquefy secretions, aiding in easier clearance. Encouraging the patient to wear a nasal oxygen cannula may improve gas exchange but does not directly promote airway clearance. Instructing the patient on the pursed lip breathing technique is beneficial for improving gas exchange in patients with COPD but does not directly aid in airway clearance in a patient with bacterial pneumonia and thick sputum.
A pregnant woman who is 36 weeks' pregnant and has hepatitis B is being informed by a nurse. Which of the following statements from the client indicates understanding of this condition?
- A. Now I know my baby will need a cesarean section.
- B. My baby will need two shots soon after birth.
- C. I will not be able to breastfeed.
- D. My baby's father does not need testing; I know I am the one with hepatitis.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is 'My baby will need two shots soon after birth.' A baby born to a mother with hepatitis B should receive two injections soon after birth to reduce the risk of contracting the disease. Within the first 12 hours post-birth, the baby should receive the first hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) for additional protection. Option A is incorrect because the need for a cesarean section is not directly related to the mother's hepatitis B status. Option C is incorrect as breastfeeding can be safe if managed properly. Option D is incorrect as the baby's father should also be tested for hepatitis B to prevent transmission to the newborn.
While auscultating a patient's lungs, the nurse hears low-pitched, bubbling sounds during inhalation in the lower third of both lungs. How should the nurse document this finding?
- A. Inspiratory crackles at the bases
- B. Expiratory wheezes in both lungs
- C. Abnormal lung sounds in the apices of both lungs
- D. Pleural friction rub in the right and left lower lobes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is 'Inspiratory crackles at the bases.' Crackles are low-pitched, bubbling sounds typically heard during inspiration, which aligns with the nurse's finding. Expiratory wheezes are high-pitched sounds and are not consistent with the described auscultation findings. The lower third of both lungs refers to the bases, not the apices, so option C is incorrect. Pleural friction rubs are grating sounds heard during both inspiration and expiration, unlike the described finding of only hearing the sounds during inhalation in the lower third of both lungs.
The nurse provides discharge instructions to a patient who was hospitalized for pneumonia.
Which statement, if made by the patient, indicates a good understanding of the instructions?
- A. I will call the doctor if I still feel tired after a week.
- B. I will continue to do the deep breathing and coughing exercises at home.
- C. I will continue to do the deep breathing and coughing exercises at home.
- D. I'll cancel my chest x-ray appointment if Im feeling better in a couple weeks
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Patients should continue to cough and deep breathe after discharge. Fatigue is expected for
several weeks. The Pneumovax and influenza vaccines can be given at the same time in different
arms. Explain that a follow-up chest x-ray needs to be done in 6 to 8 weeks to evaluate resolution
of pneumonia.
A patient with newly diagnosed lung cancer tells the nurse, 'I don't think I'm going to live to see my next birthday.' Which response by the nurse is best?
- A. Would you like to talk to the hospital chaplain about your feelings?
- B. Can you tell me what it is that makes you think you will die so soon?
- C. Are you afraid that the treatment for your cancer will not be effective?
- D. Do you think that taking an antidepressant medication would be helpful?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse's initial response should be to collect more assessment data about the patient's statement. The answer beginning 'Can you tell me what it is' is the most open-ended question and will offer the best opportunity for obtaining more data. The answer beginning 'Are you afraid' implies that the patient thinks that the cancer will be immediately fatal, although the patient's statement may not be related to the cancer diagnosis. The remaining two answers offer interventions that may be helpful to the patient, but more assessment is needed to determine whether these interventions are appropriate.