A nurse is caring for a client who is immobile. Which of the following actions is the priority for the nurse to contribute to the client's plan of care?

A. Saving the sputum specimen in a clean container.

While it is important to collect the sputum specimen in a clean, sterile container, simply saving the specimen in a clean container is not sufficient. The nurse needs to actively collect the sputum specimen from the client using proper technique to ensure that it is not contaminated and is suitable for laboratory analysis.

B. Collecting the sputum specimen after a meal.

Collecting a sputum specimen after a meal is not recommended, as it can increase the likelihood of contamination with food particles. It's preferable to collect the specimen before meals or at least 1-2 hours after eating to minimize the risk of contamination and ensure the integrity of the specimen.

C. Rinse the client's mouth before collecting the specimen.

When obtaining a sputum specimen from a client, it's important for the nurse to plan to rinse the client's mouth before collecting the specimen. Rinsing the mouth with water helps to clear any food particles or debris from the oral cavity, ensuring that the sputum sample collected is not contaminated with saliva or food particles. This improves the quality and accuracy of the specimen for laboratory analysis.

D. Obtaining the specimen from the client in the evening.

The timing of specimen collection is not necessarily restricted to the evening. The timing may vary depending on the client's condition and the healthcare provider's orders. It's important to follow the healthcare provider's instructions regarding the timing of specimen collection, which may be based on factors such as the client's symptoms and the diagnostic requirements.

A. Instruct the client to use a pursed-lip breathing technique.

Pursed-lip breathing is a technique commonly used to help relieve dyspnea, particularly in individuals with COPD. This technique involves breathing in through the nose and exhaling slowly through pursed lips, which helps to prolong exhalation, reduce airway collapse, and improve oxygen exchange. While pursed-lip breathing can be beneficial, it should not be the priority action when the client reports difficulty breathing. Before initiating any breathing techniques, the nurse should first assess the client's respiratory status to determine the severity of the breathing difficulty and whether additional interventions are necessary.

B. Evaluate the client's respiratory status.

This is the correct priority action in this scenario. When a client with COPD reports difficulty breathing, the nurse's first step should be to thoroughly assess the client's respiratory status. This assessment involves evaluating respiratory rate, depth, effort, oxygen saturation levels, auscultating lung sounds, and assessing for signs of respiratory distress. By conducting a comprehensive assessment, the nurse can determine the severity of the client's symptoms, identify any potential exacerbating factors or complications, and make informed decisions regarding appropriate interventions.

C. Increase the oxygen flow to 3 L/min.

While increasing the oxygen flow may be a consideration if the client's oxygen saturation is low, it should not be the immediate priority without first assessing the client's respiratory status. Increasing oxygen flow without proper assessment could potentially worsen hypercapnia in some COPD patients and may not address the underlying cause of the client's difficulty breathing. Therefore, this action should be based on assessment findings rather than being the initial response.

D. Have the client cough and expectorate secretions.

Coughing and expectorating secretions can be helpful in clearing the airways and improving breathing in individuals with COPD, especially if secretions are contributing to the difficulty breathing. However, similar to the pursed-lip breathing technique, this action should not be the priority without first assessing the client's respiratory status. The nurse should determine whether secretions are indeed present and causing the difficulty breathing before instructing the client to cough and expectorate. Therefore, this option should follow a thorough respiratory assessment.