Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Critical Thinking, Ethical Decision Making and the Nursing Process Related

Review Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Critical Thinking, Ethical Decision Making and the Nursing Process related questions and content

You are writing a care plan for an 85-year-old patient who has community-acquired pneumonia and you note decreased breath sounds to bilateral lung bases on auscultation. What is the most appropriate nursing diagnosis for this patient?

  • A. Ineffective airway clearance related to tracheobronchial secretions
  • B. Pneumonia related to progression of disease process
  • C. Poor ventilation related to acute lung infection
  • D. Immobility related to fatigue
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Nursing diagnoses are not medical diagnoses or treatments. The most appropriate nursing diagnosis for this patient is ineffective airway clearance related to copious tracheobronchial secretions. Pneumonia and poor ventilation are not nursing diagnoses. Immobility is likely, but is less directly related to the patients admitting medical diagnosis and the nurses assessment finding.