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The nurse is caring for a patient with a pleural effusion who is scheduled for a thoracentesis. Which of the following actions should the nurse implement prior to the procedure?
- A. Start a peripheral intravenous line to administer the necessary sedative drugs.
- B. Position the patient sitting upright on the edge of the bed and leaning forward.
- C. Remove the water pitcher and remind the patient not to eat or drink anything for 6 hours.
- D. Instruct the patient about the importance of incentive spirometer use after the procedure.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When the patient is sitting up, fluid accumulates in the pleural space at the lung bases and can more easily be located and removed. The lung will expand after the effusion is removed. Incentive spirometry is not needed to assure alveolar expansion. The patient does not usually require sedation for the procedure, and there are no restrictions on oral intake because the patient is not sedated or unconscious.
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The nurse is performing tuberculosis (TB) screening in a clinic that has many patients who have immigrated to Canada. Before doing a TB skin test on a patient, which of the following questions is most important for the nurse to ask?
- A. Is there any family history of TB?
- B. Have you received the bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine for TB?
- C. How long have you lived in the Canada?
- D. Do you take any over-the-counter (OTC) medications?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patients who have received the BCG vaccine will have a positive Mantoux test. Another method for screening (such as a chest x-ray) will need to be used in determining whether the patient has a TB infection. The other information also may be valuable but is not as pertinent to the decision about doing TB skin testing.
The nurse is teaching a patient who is receiving standard multidrug therapy for tuberculosis (TB) about possible toxic effects of the antitubercular medications. Which of the following findings should the nurse instruct the patient to report to the health care provider?
- A. Yellow-tinged skin
- B. Changes in hearing
- C. Orange-coloured sputum
- D. Thickening of the fingernails
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Noninfectious hepatitis is a toxic effect of isoniazid (INH), rifampin, and pyrazinamide, and patients who develop hepatotoxicity will need to use other medications. Changes in hearing and nail thickening are not expected with the four medications used for initial TB drug therapy. Orange discoloration of body fluids is an expected adverse effect of rifampin and not an indication to call the health care provider.
The health care provider inserts a chest tube in a patient with a hemo-pneumothorax. When monitoring the patient after the chest tube placement, which of the following findings is of greatest concern?
- A. A large air leak in the water-seal chamber
- B. 400 mL of blood in the collection chamber
- C. Complaint of pain with each deep inspiration
- D. Subcutaneous emphysema at the insertion site
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The large amount of blood may indicate that the patient is in danger of developing hypovolemic shock. Drainage greater than 100 mL is to be reported to the health care provider. A large air leak would be expected immediately after chest tube placement for pneumothorax. The pain should be treated but is not as urgent a concern as the possibility of continued hemorrhage. Subcutaneous emphysema should be monitored but is not unusual in a patient with pneumothorax.
Which of the following actions by the occupational health nurse at a manufacturing plant where there is potential exposure to inhaled dust is most helpful in reducing incidence of lung disease?
- A. Teach about symptoms of lung disease.
- B. Treat workers who inhale dust particles
- C. Monitor workers for shortness of breath
- D. Require the use of protective equipment
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Prevention of lung disease requires the use of appropriate protective equipment such as masks. The other actions will help in recognition or early treatment of lung disease, but will not be effective in prevention of lung damage.
The nurse is caring for a patient who has a steering wheel injury as a result of an automobile accident. Which of the following findings should be of most concern to the nurse during the initial assessment?
- A. Paradoxical chest movement
- B. The complaint of chest wall pain
- C. A heart rate of 110 beats/minute
- D. A large bruised area on the chest
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Paradoxical chest movement indicates that the patient may have flail chest, which can severely compromise gas exchange and can rapidly lead to hypoxemia. Chest wall pain, a slightly elevated pulse rate, and chest bruising all require further assessment or intervention, but the priority concern is poor gas exchange.