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When the ventilator alarm sounds, the nurse finds the patient lying in bed holding the endotracheal tube (ET). Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
- A. Offer reassurance to the patient.
- B. Activate the hospital's rapid response team.
- C. Call the health care provider to reinsert the tube.
- D. Manually ventilate the patient with 100% oxygen.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse should ensure maximal patient oxygenation by manually ventilating with a bag-valve-mask system. Offering reassurance to the patient, notifying the health care provider about the need to reinsert the tube, and activating the rapid response team also are appropriate after the nurse has stabilized the patient's oxygenation.
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The nurse notes thick, white respiratory secretions from a patient who is receiving mechanical ventilation. Which of the following interventions will be most effective in resolving this problem?
- A. Suction the patient every hour.
- B. Reposition the patient every 2 hours.
- C. Add additional water to the patient's enteral feedings.
- D. Instill 5 ml of sterile saline into the endotracheal tube (ET) before suctioning.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Because the patient's secretions are thick, better hydration is indicated. Suctioning every hour without any specific evidence for the need will increase the incidence of mucosal trauma and would not address the etiology of the ineffective airway clearance. Instillation of saline does not liquefy secretions and may decrease the SpO2. Repositioning the patient is appropriate but will not decrease the thickness of secretions.
Which of the following actions should the nurse do to inflate the cuff of an endotracheal tube (ET) when the patient is on mechanical ventilation?
- A. Inflate the cuff until the pilot balloon is firm.
- B. Inflate the cuff with a minimum of 10 mL of air.
- C. Inject air into the cuff until a manometer shows 15 mm Hg pressure.
- D. Inject air into the cuff until a slight leak is heard only at peak inflation.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The minimal occluding volume technique involves injecting air into the cuff until an air leak is present only at peak inflation. The volume to inflate the cuff varies with the ET and the patient's size. Cuff pressure should be maintained at 20-25 mm Hg. An accurate assessment of cuff pressure cannot be obtained by palpating the pilot balloon.
Which of the following information obtained by the nurse when caring for a patient receiving mechanical ventilation indicates the need for suctioning?
- A. The respiratory rate is 17 breaths/minute.
- B. The pulse oximeter shows a SpO2 of 93%.
- C. The lungs have occasional audible expiratory wheezes.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The increase in respiratory rate indicates that the patient may have decreased airway clearance and requires suctioning. Suctioning is done when patient assessment data indicate that it is needed, not on a scheduled basis. Occasional expiratory wheezes do not indicate poor airway clearance, and suctioning the patient may induce bronchospasm and increase wheezing. An SpO2 of 93% is acceptable and does not suggest that immediate suctioning is needed.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is in cardiogenic shock requiring an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). Which of the following assessment findings indicates that the goals of treatment with the IABP are being met?
- A. Heart rate of 110 beats/minute
- B. Urine output of 20 mL/hour
- C. Cardiac output (CO) of 5 L/minute
- D. Stroke volume (SV) of 40 mL/beat
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A CO of 5 L/minute is normal (range is 4-8 L/minute) and indicates that the IABP has been successful in treating the shock. The low SV signifies continued cardiogenic shock. The tachycardia and low urine output also suggest continued cardiogenic shock.
The nurse is caring for a patient who has acute pancreatitis and the mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) is decreasing. Which of the following parameters should the nurse assess to determine the possible cause of the decreased SvO2?
- A. Weight
- B. Amylase
- C. Temperature
- D. Urinary output
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Elevated temperature increases metabolic demands and oxygen use by tissues, resulting in a drop in oxygen saturation of mixed venous blood. Information about the patient's weight, urinary output, and amylase will not help in determining the cause of the patient's drop in SvO2.