A nurse is caring for a client who has pneumonia. The nurse notes that the client has thick secretions and needs to thin them. What intervention will help thin the secretions?

Encourage the client to ambulate frequently

Encourage coughing and deep breathing

Encourage the client to increase fluid intake

Encourage regular use of the incentive spirometer

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A reason: Frequent ambulation improves lung expansion and secretion mobilization but does not thin secretions. In pneumonia, thick secretions result from inflammation and dehydration, requiring hydration to reduce viscosity, making ambulation a supportive, not primary, intervention for thinning secretions effectively.

Choice B reason: Coughing and deep breathing mobilize secretions in pneumonia, aiding clearance, but do not thin consistency. Thick secretions require hydration to reduce viscosity, making coughing more effective, but it is secondary to fluid intake, which directly alters mucus composition for easier expectoration.

Choice C reason: Increasing fluid intake thins secretions in pneumonia by hydrating the body, reducing mucus viscosity. Adequate hydration ensures thinner secretions, facilitating expectoration and reducing airway obstruction risk, making this the most effective intervention for addressing thick secretions in this condition.

Choice D reason: Incentive spirometry promotes lung expansion and prevents atelectasis but does not thin secretions. While it aids clearance by improving airflow, hydration is needed to alter mucus viscosity, making spirometry a supportive measure, not the primary intervention for thinning secretions in pneumonia.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason: Continuing aspirin increases bleeding risk during surgery due to its antiplatelet effect, inhibiting clot formation for 7–10 days. This can lead to excessive intraoperative hemorrhage, making it an incorrect instruction, as stopping aspirin is standard to ensure hemostasis.

Choice B reason: Increasing aspirin heightens bleeding risk, as its antiplatelet effect persists for 7–10 days. Discontinuing only 3 days prior is insufficient, and resuming 3 days post-surgery risks bleeding, making this an incorrect and unsafe instruction for surgical preparation.

Choice C reason: Stopping aspirin 7 days before surgery is standard, as its antiplatelet effect lasts 7–10 days, reducing bleeding risk. This allows platelet function to normalize, preventing hemorrhage, making it the correct instruction, with physician guidance for conditions like cardiac stents.

Choice D reason: Taking half doses of aspirin does not mitigate its antiplatelet effect, which persists for 7–10 days, increasing surgical bleeding risk. This is insufficient to ensure hemostasis, making it an incorrect instruction compared to stopping aspirin 7 days prior for safer outcomes.

A. Wheezes B. Rhonchi C. Crackles D. Pleural friction rub

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: Wheezes are high-pitched, musical sounds caused by narrowed airways, common in asthma or COPD exacerbations. They do not clear with coughing and are not moist or rumbling, making this an incorrect description for the lung sounds heard, which improve after coughing in this COPD client.

Choice B reason: Rhonchi are low-pitched, moist, rumbling sounds caused by secretions in larger airways, often in COPD. They improve with coughing as secretions are mobilized, matching the description provided. This makes rhonchi the accurate term for documenting these lung sounds, reflecting secretion accumulation in COPD.

Choice C reason: Crackles are fine or coarse popping sounds caused by fluid in smaller airways or alveoli, often in pneumonia or heart failure. They do not clear with coughing and are not rumbling, making crackles an incorrect choice for the moist, rumbling sounds that improve after coughing.

Choice D reason: Pleural friction rub is a grating sound caused by inflamed pleural surfaces, often in pleurisy. It is not moist or rumbling and does not improve with coughing, making it an inappropriate description for the lung sounds heard in this client with COPD, which are secretion-related.

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A nurse is caring for a client who has pneumonia. The nurse notes that the client has thick secretions and needs to thin them. What intervention will help thin the secretions?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse is educating a client scheduled for elective surgery. The client currently takes aspirin daily. What education will the nurse provide regarding this medication?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The nurse is assessing a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and auscultates moist, rumbling sounds that improve after the client coughs. How will the nurse document the lung sounds?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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