Nokea
The nurse is assessing a patient who frequently coughs after eating or drinking. How should the nurse best follow up this assessment finding?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Perform a swallowing assessment. This is the best follow-up because coughing after eating or drinking can be a sign of dysphagia, a swallowing disorder. By performing a swallowing assessment, the nurse can identify any issues with the patient's ability to swallow safely, which can lead to aspiration and respiratory complications. Obtaining a sputum sample (A) may not provide relevant information in this context. Inspecting the patient's tongue and mouth (C) may not directly address the coughing after eating. Assessing the patient's nutritional status (D) is important but may not address the immediate issue of coughing after eating or drinking.