The nurse is caring for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The patient has been receiving high-flow oxygen therapy for an extended time. What symptoms should the nurse anticipate if the patient were experiencing oxygen toxicity?
- A. Bradycardia and frontal headache
- B. Dyspnea and substernal pain
- C. Peripheral cyanosis and restlessness
- D. Hypotension and tachycardia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Oxygen toxicity can occur when patients receive too high a concentration of oxygen for an extended period. Symptoms of oxygen toxicity include dyspnea, substernal pain, restlessness, fatigue, and progressive respiratory difficulty. Bradycardia, frontal headache, cyanosis, hypotension, and tachycardia are not symptoms of oxygen toxicity.
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The nurse is discussing activity management with a patient who is postoperative following thoracotomy. What instructions should the nurse give to the patient regarding activity immediately following discharge?
- A. Walk 1 mile 3 to 4 times a week
- B. Use weights daily to increase arm strength
- C. Walk on a treadmill 30 minutes daily
- D. Perform shoulder exercises five times daily
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse emphasizes the importance of progressively increased activity. The nurse also instructs the patient on the importance of performing shoulder exercises five times daily. The patient should ambulate with limits and realize that the return of strength will likely be gradual and likely will not include weight lifting or lengthy walks.
The acute medical nurse is preparing to wean a patient from the ventilator. Which assessment parameter is most important for the nurse to assess?
- A. Fluid intake for the last 24 hours
- B. Baseline arterial blood gas (ABG) levels
- C. Prior outcomes of weaning
- D. Electrocardiogram (ECG) results
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Before weaning a patient from mechanical ventilation, it is most important to have baseline ABG levels. During the weaning process, ABG levels will be checked to assess how the patient is tolerating the procedure. Other assessment parameters are relevant, but less critical. Measuring fluid volume intake and output is always important when a patient is being mechanically ventilated. Prior attempts at weaning and ECG results are documented on the patients record, and the nurse can refer to them before the weaning process begins.
The nurse is performing patient education for a patient who is being discharged on mini-nebulizer treatments. What information should the nurse prioritize in the patients discharge teaching?
- A. How to count her respirations accurately
- B. How to collect serial sputum samples
- C. How to independently wean herself from treatment
- D. How to perform diaphragmatic breathing
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Diaphragmatic breathing is a helpful technique to prepare for proper use of the small-volume nebulizer. Patient teaching would not include counting respirations and the patient should not wean herself from treatment without the involvement of her primary care provider. Serial sputum samples are not normally necessary.
Postural drainage has been ordered for a patient who is having difficulty mobilizing her bronchial secretions. Before repositioning the patient and beginning treatment, the nurse should perform what health assessment?
- A. Chest auscultation
- B. Pulmonary function testing
- C. Chest percussion
- D. Thoracic palpation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Chest auscultation should be performed before and after postural drainage in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy. Percussion and palpation are less likely to provide clinically meaningful data for the nurse. PFTs are normally beyond the scope of the nurse and are not necessary immediately before postural drainage.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is scheduled to have a thoracotomy. When planning preoperative teaching, what information should the nurse communicate to the patient?
- A. How to milk the chest tubing
- B. How to splint the incision when coughing
- C. How to take prophylactic antibiotics correctly
- D. How to manage the need for fluid restriction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Prior to thoracotomy, the nurse educates the patient about how to splint the incision with the hands, a pillow, or a folded towel. The patient is not taught how to milk the chest tubing because this is performed by the nurse. Prophylactic antibiotics are not normally used and fluid restriction is not indicated following thoracotomy.
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