A nurse is attending to a patient who is experiencing discomfort.
Which of the following patient statements should the nurse document in the initial pain assessment to describe the quality of the patient’s pain?

Choice A rationale: Using a resuscitation bag with 80% oxygen prior to the procedure is inappropriate. While pre-oxygenation is important before suctioning to prevent hypoxia, the oxygen concentration should be 100%, not 80%. Normal oxygen saturation levels are 95% to 100%. Pre-oxygenating with 100% oxygen ensures the patient maintains adequate oxygenation during the brief suctioning period. Using 80% oxygen does not fully optimize oxygen reserves for this purpose.

Choice B rationale: Selecting a suction catheter that is half the size of the tracheostomy lumen is appropriate. This size prevents excessive occlusion of the airway, ensuring adequate airflow during suctioning. The correct catheter size minimizes trauma to the tracheal mucosa and prevents hypoxia. The catheter should not exceed 50% of the tracheostomy diameter to maintain proper airway function, making this the correct action for safe and effective suctioning.

Choice C rationale

Placing the end of the suction catheter in water-soluble lubricant is not recommended. This could introduce bacteria into the airway and increase the risk of infection.

Choice D rationale

Adjusting the wall suction apparatus to a pressure of 170 mm Hg is not correct. The recommended suction pressure for adults is usually between 80 and 120 mm Hg. Suctioning at too high a pressure can cause trauma to the airway.

Choice A rationale

A temperature of 36.5°C is considered normal.

Choice B rationale

A temperature of 37.5°C is slightly elevated but still within the normal range.

Choice C rationale

A temperature of 38.5°C is considered a fever. Given the client’s symptoms of a productive cough with thick yellow sputum and abnormal breath sounds, this could indicate an infection such as pneumonia, which would likely cause a fever.

Choice D rationale

A temperature of 39.5°C is a high fever and could indicate a severe infection. However, the client’s symptoms are more consistent with a moderate fever.