A nurse is caring for a client who has been admitted with asthma exacerbation and is experiencing increased wheezing and has an oxygen saturation of 91%. The client is scheduled for his next breathing treatment in 1hr. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. Fatigue

When collecting data from a client with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), the nurse should expect to observe fatigue as one of the common manifestations. TB is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affecting the lungs. Fatigue is a typical symptom experienced by individuals with TB, often resulting from the body's immune response to the infection, as well as the systemic effects of inflammation and tissue damage caused by the bacteria.

B. High fever in the early morning

While fever is a symptom of tuberculosis, it may not necessarily occur specifically in the early morning. Fever associated with TB can occur at any time of the day and may persist for weeks to months. The pattern of fever can vary among individuals and may not consistently occur in the early morning.

C. Edema

Edema, or swelling due to fluid accumulation in tissues, is not typically associated with pulmonary tuberculosis. Edema is more commonly observed in conditions such as heart failure, renal failure, or liver disease, rather than in TB.

D. Increased appetite

Increased appetite is not a typical finding in pulmonary tuberculosis. In fact, individuals with active TB infection often experience appetite loss and unintended weight loss due to factors such as decreased food intake, metabolic changes, and systemic inflammation associated with the infection.

A. Asking the provider to repeat another radiograph of the chest.

This option is not the most appropriate action in this scenario. While a chest radiograph may be useful in certain situations to assess for complications such as pneumothorax or pneumonia, it is not typically the first intervention for an asthma exacerbation with increased wheezing and decreased oxygen saturation. In this acute situation, the priority is to provide immediate treatment to alleviate the client's symptoms and improve oxygenation.

B. Increasing oxygen to maintain an oxygen saturation of 95% or greater in the client.

While maintaining adequate oxygenation is important, especially in a client with asthma exacerbation, it is not the first-line intervention in this scenario. Oxygen supplementation may be necessary, but the priority is to address the underlying bronchospasm causing the decreased oxygen saturation. Therefore, this option may be considered after initiating appropriate bronchodilator therapy.

C. Requesting the pharmacy to dispense 10 mL of dextromethorphan PO.

This option is not appropriate for managing an asthma exacerbation. Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant and does not address the underlying bronchospasm characteristic of asthma exacerbations. In fact, suppressing cough may hinder the clearance of mucus and exacerbate respiratory distress. Therefore, this intervention is not indicated and may delay appropriate treatment.

D. Instructing respiratory therapy to administer a PRN albuterol aerosol.

This is the correct action in this scenario. Albuterol is a short-acting bronchodilator commonly used to relieve bronchospasm and improve airflow in clients experiencing asthma exacerbations. Administering albuterol via aerosolized inhalation helps to quickly deliver the medication directly to the airways, providing rapid relief of symptoms such as wheezing and improving oxygenation. Therefore, instructing respiratory therapy to administer a PRN albuterol aerosol is the most appropriate intervention to address the client's acute symptoms.