A client has tested positive for tuberculosis (TB). While providing client teaching, what information should a nurse prioritize?
The importance of adhering closely to the prescribed medication regimen.
The client must remain in respiratory isolation until medication treatment ends.
The fact that the disease is self-limiting, but can take up to two years to resolve.
The importance of participating in physical therapy to re-establish functional abilities.
The Correct Answer is A
A. The importance of adhering closely to the prescribed medication regimen. Tuberculosis requires strict adherence to a long-term antibiotic regimen, typically lasting 6 to 9 months, to prevent drug resistance, treatment failure, and disease relapse. Noncompliance can lead to multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), which is more difficult to treat. Directly observed therapy (DOT) is often recommended to ensure adherence.
B. The client must remain in respiratory isolation until medication treatment ends. While respiratory isolation is essential for active TB, it is not required until the full course of treatment is completed. Isolation is typically maintained until the client has received at least two weeks of effective therapy, symptoms improve, and three consecutive sputum smears are negative for acid-fast bacilli (AFB).
C. The fact that the disease is self-limiting, but can take up to two years to resolve. TB is not self-limiting; without proper treatment, it can persist indefinitely, worsen, and become fatal. Standard treatment with first-line drugs such as isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide effectively eradicates the infection within 6 to 9 months in most cases.
D. The importance of participating in physical therapy to re-establish functional abilities. While TB can cause fatigue and weakness, physical therapy is not a primary focus of treatment. The priority is to eradicate the infection through strict medication adherence, as untreated TB can progress to severe pulmonary damage, systemic involvement, and complications.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Use of Passy Muir speaking valve: While this is an important aspect of communication for a client who has undergone a laryngectomy, it is not the highest priority at the time of discharge. The use of the speaking valve can be addressed after ensuring that the client is equipped to handle immediate safety concerns and emergencies related to their condition.
B. Phone number of healthcare provider to report complications: Providing the client with contact information for their healthcare provider is essential for ongoing support and to address any concerns that may arise after discharge. However, this information is secondary to ensuring the client can effectively communicate their condition and limitations, particularly in an emergency situation.
C. Emergency personal identification that client is unable to speak: This is the highest priority for discharge teaching because it directly addresses the client’s safety. Having emergency identification is crucial for informing healthcare providers and first responders about the client's inability to speak, especially in situations where communication may be vital for receiving appropriate care. Ensuring that the client can communicate their condition in emergencies takes precedence over other aspects of post-operative care.
D. Ability to perform tracheostomy care: While it is important for the client to be educated on tracheostomy care to ensure ongoing health and safety, this teaching can be considered after addressing immediate safety needs. The ability to care for the tracheostomy is vital but does not take priority over having emergency identification that communicates the client’s needs to others who may not be aware of their condition.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. To facilitate weaning off the mechanical ventilator. While PEEP is an important component of mechanical ventilation, its primary function is not to facilitate weaning. Instead, it improves oxygenation by preventing alveolar collapse. Weaning involves gradually reducing ventilatory support, but PEEP is typically adjusted based on oxygenation needs rather than as a direct step in weaning.
B. To decrease trapped oxygen in the alveoli. PEEP does not decrease trapped oxygen; instead, it maintains alveolar patency and prevents atelectasis. In conditions like ARDS, alveoli tend to collapse due to fluid accumulation and inflammation, and PEEP helps counteract this collapse to improve gas exchange. Reducing "trapped" oxygen is not a function of PEEP.
C. To promote independent breathing efforts. PEEP itself does not promote spontaneous breathing; instead, it provides positive pressure at the end of exhalation to improve oxygenation. In fact, high levels of PEEP can suppress spontaneous breathing by increasing intrathoracic pressure, requiring careful adjustment to balance oxygenation and ventilatory effort.
D. To keep the airways and small lung spaces open. PEEP prevents alveolar collapse by maintaining positive pressure in the lungs at the end of expiration. This improves oxygenation and gas exchange, which is critical in ARDS, where alveoli are prone to collapse due to inflammation and fluid accumulation. Keeping alveoli open reduces shunting and improves oxygen delivery to tissues.
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