Nokea
Which action should the nurse take first when providing care for a client during an acute asthma attack?
- A. Send for STAT chest x-ray
- B. Obtain arterial blood gases (ABGs)
- C. Administer prescribed short-acting bronchodilator
- D. Initiate oxygen therapy and reassess pulse oximetry in 10 minutes
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Administering a short-acting bronchodilator will dilate the airway and enable oxygen to reach the lungs. Although ABGs and a chest x-ray are valid diagnostic tests for lung disorders, immediate action to restore gas exchange is a priority in an acute asthma attack. The administration of oxygen is indicated, but without open bronchioles, the action will not be effective in an acute attack.
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Following a hip repair, the client develops hemoptysis, wheezing, and cyanosis. The nurse suspects a pulmonary embolus that originated from which site?
- A. Deep veins of the legs
- B. Bone marrow
- C. Myocardial tissue
- D. Superior vena cava
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A fat embolus usually occurs after a fracture or repair to the long bones. Pulmonary emboli may arise from the endocardium of the right side of the heart, but a myocardial infarction has not been identified in this client. The deep veins of the legs are a common site for emboli formation especially with prolonged inactivity or thrombophlebitis, which does not apply to this client.
Which entry by the nurse into the medical record is appropriate for a client who presents with symptoms indicative of acute bronchitis?
- A. Physical activity seems to increase incidence of paroxysmal coughing
- B. Frequent cough with sputum production noted
- C. Dry, irritating, nonproductive cough noted
- D. Fewer crackles today. No cough or mucus noted
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Clinical manifestations indicative of acute bronchitis include fever, chills, malaise, headache, and a dry, irritating, nonproductive cough; therefore, the entry made into the client's medical record that is indicative of this respiratory disorder is as follows: Dry, irritating, nonproductive cough noted. 'Physical activity seems to increase incidence of paroxysmal coughing' is a judgment and not an observation. A frequent cough with sputum production is not anticipated for a client who is suspected of experiencing acute bronchitis; additionally, there is no description of the client's sputum, which is required when documenting objective client data. Documenting fewer crackles today does not provide enough detail and is not measurable.
The nurse knows the mortality rate is high in lung cancer clients due to which factor?
- A. Increase in women smokers
- B. Increased incidence among the elderly
- C. Increased exposure to industrial pollutants
- D. Few early symptoms
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Because lung cancer produces few early symptoms, its mortality rate is high. Lung cancer has increased in incidence due to an increase in the number of women smokers, a growing aging population, and exposure to pollutants but these are not directly related to the incidence of mortality rates.
What are the condition(s) that make up Virchow's triad? Select all that apply.
- A. Hypercoagulability
- B. Disruption of the vessel lining
- C. Hypocoagulability
- D. Edema
- E. Venostasis
Correct Answer: A,B,E
Rationale: Three conditions, referred to as Virchow's triad, predispose a person to clot formation: venostasis, disruption of the vessel lining, and hypercoagulability. Edema plays no part in Virchow's triad.
The nurse is caring for a client with tension pneumothorax. Which nursing assessment would alert the nurse to the development of a mediastinal shift in this client?
- A. Fluctuation of the fluid in the water-seal chamber
- B. Shift of rib cage toward affected side
- C. Sucking sound heard on inspiration and expiration
- D. Shift of trachea, esophagus, heart, and great vessels
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In a tension pneumothorax, the air is sucked into the pleural cavity and cannot escape. The air accumulates and pushes the trachea, esophagus, heart, and great vessels toward the unaffected side. Fluctuation of the fluid in the water-seal chamber is an expected finding. There may be a paradoxical movement of the ribs but not a shifting to the side. A sucking sound may be heard with a pneumothorax, but air moves in and cannot escape out.