Nokea
The nurse is caring for a client who has just been diagnosed with lung cancer. What is a cardinal sign of lung cancer?
- A. Mucopurulent sputum
- B. Pain on inspiration
- C. Obvious trauma
- D. Shortness of breath
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: For a client with lung cancer, a cough productive of mucopurulent or blood-streaked sputum is a cardinal sign of lung cancer. Symptoms of fractured ribs consist primarily of severe pain on inspiration and expiration, obvious trauma, and shortness of breath. These symptoms may also be caused by other disorders but are not considered indicative of lung cancer.
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What might be revealed by a chest radiograph for a client with occupational lung diseases?
- A. Fibrotic changes in lungs
- B. Hemorrhage
- C. Lung contusion
- D. Damage to surrounding tissues
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: For a client with occupational lung diseases, a chest radiograph may reveal fibrotic changes in the lungs. Hemorrhage, lung contusion, and damage to surrounding tissues are possibly caused by trauma due to chest injuries.
The nurse is caring for a 2-year-old child who experienced near-drowning. The nurse will monitor for what possible complication?
- A. Atelectasis
- B. Acute respiratory distress syndrome
- C. Metabolic alkalosis
- D. Respiratory acidosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Factors associated with the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome include aspiration related to near drowning or vomiting; drug ingestion/overdose; hematologic disorders such as disseminated intravascular coagulation or massive transfusions; direct damage to the lungs through prolonged smoke inhalation or other corrosive substances; localized lung infection; metabolic disorders such as pancreatitis or uremia; shock; trauma such as chest contusions, multiple fractures, or head injury; any major surgery; embolism; and septicemia. The nurse would not monitor for atelectasis, metabolic alkalosis, or respiratory acidosis in this scenario.
When the nurse monitors the water-sealed drainage system, which finding suggests the system is working properly?
- A. Fluid rises and falls with respirations
- B. Level of fluid is lowered in suction chamber
- C. Fluid is bubbling vigorously
- D. Fluid appears white and frothy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Fluctuation of fluid in the water-sealed chamber is initially present with each respiration. The level of fluid in the suction chamber should be maintained to initial level. Excessive or vigorous bubbling can indicate a leak in the system. The fluid in the chamber is clear.
A client is admitted to the emergency department with a stab wound and is now presenting dyspnea, tachypnea, and sucking noise heard on inspiration and expiration. The nurse should care for the wound in which manner?
- A. Clean the wound and leave open to the air
- B. Apply vented dressing
- C. Apply airtight dressing
- D. Apply direct pressure to the wound
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The client has developed a pneumothorax, and the best action is to prevent further deflation of the affected lung by placing an airtight dressing over the wound. A vented dressing would be used in a tension pneumothorax, but because air is heard moving in and out, a tension pneumothorax is not indicated. Applying direct pressure is required if active bleeding is noted.
Following a hip repair, the client develops hemoptysis, wheezing, and cyanosis. The nurse suspects a pulmonary embolus that originated from which site?
- A. Deep veins of the legs
- B. Bone marrow
- C. Myocardial tissue
- D. Superior vena cava
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A fat embolus usually occurs after a fracture or repair to the long bones. Pulmonary emboli may arise from the endocardium of the right side of the heart, but a myocardial infarction has not been identified in this client. The deep veins of the legs are a common site for emboli formation especially with prolonged inactivity or thrombophlebitis, which does not apply to this client.