HESI CAT Exam Related

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The nurse notes that an older adult client has a moist cough that increases in severity during and after meals. Based on this finding, what action should the nurse take?

  • A. Encourage the client to perform deep breathing exercises daily.
  • B. Offer the client additional clear fluids frequently.
  • C. Collect a sputum specimen immediately.
  • D. Request a consultation to confirm dysphagia
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. The moist cough that worsens during and after meals suggests possible dysphagia, a condition related to swallowing difficulties. Requesting a consultation for dysphagia is essential for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate management. Encouraging the client to perform deep breathing exercises (choice A) may not address the underlying issue of dysphagia. Offering additional clear fluids (choice B) may not be appropriate for someone with swallowing difficulties. Collecting a sputum specimen (choice C) is not the priority in this scenario as the focus should be on identifying and managing the swallowing problem.