A nurse in a critical care unit is caring for a client who is postoperative following a right pneumonectomy. After extubation from the ventilator, in which of the following positions should the client be placed?

Choice A reason: Overflow incontinence is not the type of urinary incontinence that the client is experiencing. Overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder is overfilled and cannot empty properly, causing frequent or constant dribbling of urine. It can be caused by a blockage in the urinary tract, such as an enlarged prostate or a kidney stone, or by a weak bladder muscle that cannot contract enough to empty the bladder.

Choice B reason: Urge incontinence is not the type of urinary incontinence that the client is experiencing. Urge incontinence occurs when the bladder muscle contracts involuntarily and causes a sudden and strong urge to urinate, followed by an involuntary loss of urine. It can be caused by an infection, a neurological disorder, or an overactive bladder.

Choice C reason: Stress incontinence is not the type of urinary incontinence that the client is experiencing. Stress incontinence occurs when the pelvic floor muscles or the urethral sphincter are weakened or damaged and cannot hold urine in the bladder when there is increased abdominal pressure, such as from coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising. It can be caused by pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, or surgery.

Choice D reason: Reflex incontinence is the type of urinary incontinence that the client is experiencing. Reflex incontinence occurs when the bladder muscle contracts without the sensation or control of the person, causing urine to leak without warning or awareness. It can be caused by nerve damage that affects the communication between the bladder and the brain, such as from a spinal cord injury, a stroke, or multiple sclerosis..

Choice A reason: This is incorrect. Taking the albuterol before taking the cromolyn is not necessary. Albuterol and cromolyn are both used to treat asthma, but they have different mechanisms of action. Albuterol is a bronchodilator that relaxes the muscles around the airways and opens them up, making it easier to breathe. Cromolyn is a mast cell stabilizer that prevents the release of substances that cause inflammation and allergy symptoms in the airways. Albuterol is used to relieve acute asthma attacks, while cromolyn is used to prevent chronic asthma symptoms. The nurse should advise the client to use albuterol as needed for quick relief, and to use cromolyn regularly as prescribed to prevent asthma flareups.

Choice B reason: This is incorrect. Using both medications immediately after exercising is not recommended. Exercise can trigger asthma symptoms in some people, such as wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath. This is called exercise induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) or exercise induced asthma (EIA). The nurse should advise the client to use albuterol 15 to 30 minutes before exercising to prevent EIB or EIA, and to avoid exercising in cold, dry, or polluted air. The nurse should also instruct the client to use cromolyn at least 15 minutes before exercising, as it takes time to work and does not provide immediate relief. The nurse should also tell the client to stop exercising and use albuterol if asthma symptoms occur during or after exercising.

Choice C reason: This is incorrect. Using cromolyn immediately if the breathing begins to feel tight is not effective. Cromolyn is not a rescue medication that can provide quick relief of asthma symptoms. It is a preventive medication that works by reducing the inflammation and sensitivity of the airways over time. The nurse should advise the client to use albuterol instead of cromolyn if the breathing begins to feel tight, as albuterol can rapidly open up the airways and ease the breathing. The nurse should also instruct the client to seek medical attention if the albuterol does not work or if the symptoms get worse.

Choice D reason: This is correct. Administering the medications 10 minutes apart is good practice. Cromolyn and albuterol can be used together to treat asthma, but they should not be mixed in the same nebulizer, as they may not be compatible and may lose their effectiveness. The nurse should instruct the client to use separate nebulizers for each medication, and to wait at least 10 minutes between each nebulization to allow the medication to reach the lungs and avoid irritation of the airways. The nurse should also teach the client how to use the nebulizer properly, and how to clean and store it after each use.