Nokea
When assessing for substances that are known to harm workers lungs, the occupational health nurse should assess their potential exposure to which of the following?
- A. Organic acids
- B. Propane
- C. Asbestos
- D. Gypsum
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Asbestos is among the more common causes of pneumoconiosis. Organic acids, propane, and gypsum do not have this effect.
You may also like to solve these questions
A patient has been brought to the ED by the paramedics. The patient is suspected of having ARDS. What intervention should the nurse first anticipate?
- A. Preparing to assist with intubating the patient
- B. Setting up oxygen at 5 L/minute by nasal cannula
- C. Performing deep suctioning
- D. Setting up a nebulizer to administer corticosteroids
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A patient who has ARDS usually requires intubation and mechanical ventilation. Oxygen by nasal cannula would likely be insufficient. Deep suctioning and nebulizers may be indicated, but the priority is to secure the airway.
The nurse is caring for a patient suspected of having ARDS. What is the most likely diagnostic test ordered in the early stages of this disease to differentiate the patients symptoms from those of a cardiac etiology?
- A. Carboxyhemoglobin level
- B. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level
- C. C-reactive protein (CRP) level
- D. Complete blood count
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Common diagnostic tests performed for patients with potential ARDS include plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, echocardiography, and pulmonary artery catheterization. The BNP level is helpful in distinguishing ARDS from cardiogenic pulmonary edema. The carboxyhemoglobin level will be increased in a client with an inhalation injury, which commonly progresses into ARDS. CRP and CBC levels do not help differentiate from a cardiac problem.
The occupational health nurse is assessing new employees at a company. What would be important to assess in employees with a potential occupational respiratory exposure to a toxin? Select all that apply.
- A. Time frame of exposure
- B. Type of respiratory protection used
- C. Immunization status
- D. Breath sounds
- E. Intensity of exposure
Correct Answer: A,B,D,E
Rationale: Key aspects of any assessment of patients with a potential occupational respiratory history include job and job activities, exposure levels, general hygiene, time frame of exposure, effectiveness of respiratory protection used, and direct versus indirect exposures. The patients current respiratory status would also be a priority. Occupational lung hazards are not normally influenced by immunizations.
The nurse is reviewing the electronic health record of a patient with an empyema. What health problem in the patients history is most likely to have caused the empyema?
- A. Smoking
- B. Asbestosis
- C. Pneumonia
- D. Lung cancer
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Most empyemas occur as complications of bacterial pneumonia or lung abscess. Cancer, smoking, and asbestosis are not noted to be common causes.
The nurse caring for a patient recently diagnosed with lung disease encourages the patient not to smoke. What is the primary rationale behind this nursing action?
- A. Smoking decreases the amount of mucus production
- B. Smoke particles compete for binding sites on hemoglobin
- C. Smoking causes atrophy of the alveoli
- D. Smoking damages the ciliary cleansing mechanism
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In addition to irritating the mucous cells of the bronchi and inhibiting the function of alveolar macrophage (scavenger) cells, smoking damages the ciliary cleansing mechanism of the respiratory tract. Smoking also increases the amount of mucus production and distends the alveoli in the lungs. It reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin, but not by directly competing for binding sites.