A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following a tracheostomy and has copious and tenacious secretions. Which of the following is an acceptable method for the nurse to use to thin this client's secretions?

a. Provide humidified oxygen: Humidification helps prevent the drying of mucous membranes, making secretions more manageable and less tenacious. This is an acceptable method to thin

secretions in a client with a tracheostomy.

b. Prelubricate the suction catheter tip with sterile saline when suctioning the airway: While lubrication with sterile saline is a common practice during suctioning to reduce trauma to the airway, it does not directly address the tenacity of secretions.

c. Perform chest physiotherapy prior to suctioning: Chest physiotherapy is a technique used to mobilize respiratory secretions, but it may not directly address the tenacity of secretions.

d. Hyperventilate the client with 100% oxygen before suctioning the airway: Hyperventilation with 100% oxygen is not a routine practice and may lead to respiratory alkalosis. Providing

humidified oxygen is a more appropriate approach.

a. Complete heart block: Complete heart block would typically present with a regular ventricular rate, but with no association between P waves and QRS complexes.

b. Atrial fibrillation: Atrial fibrillation is characterized by the absence of identifiable P waves and an irregular ventricular rate. The atria fibrillate, leading to chaotic electrical activity and an irregular ventricular response.

c. Sinus tachycardia: Sinus tachycardia is characterized by a regular ventricular rate and identifiable P waves. It is not associated with the absence of P waves.

d. First-degree AV block: First-degree AV block is characterized by a prolonged PR interval, but it does not result in the absence of P waves. The relationship between P waves and QRS

complexes is maintained.