A nurse is caring for a patient who has been prescribed nebulized Acetylcysteine for thick respiratory secretions. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to ensure effective secretion clearance after administration of the medication?
Instruct the patient to limit their fluid intake
Perform chest physiotherapy
Instruct the patient to avoid coughing to prevent airway irritation
Administer a bronchodilator
The Correct Answer is B
A. Instruct the patient to limit their fluid intake: Limiting fluids can worsen secretion thickness and impair mucociliary clearance. Hydration is essential for thinning secretions and supporting the action of mucolytics like Acetylcysteine.
B. Perform chest physiotherapy: Chest physiotherapy, including percussion and postural drainage, helps mobilize loosened secretions following Acetylcysteine administration. This facilitates airway clearance and improves ventilation and oxygenation.
C. Instruct the patient to avoid coughing to prevent airway irritation: Coughing is a natural and beneficial response that helps expel mucus after mucolytic therapy. Inhibiting the cough reflex can lead to secretion retention and airway obstruction.
D. Administer a bronchodilator: While bronchodilators may be helpful in patients with bronchospasm, they are not required after every dose of Acetylcysteine. Chest physiotherapy is more directly effective in clearing mucus after mucolytic administration.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["10"]
Explanation
Desired dose = 20 mg
Available concentration = 10 mg per 5 mL
- Calculate the concentration in mg/mL:
Concentration (mg/mL) = Available dose / Available volume
= 10 mg / 5 mL
= 2 mg/mL
Volume to administer = Desired dose / Available concentration
= 20 mg / 2 mg/mL
= 10 mL
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. The safe and toxic plasma levels of the drug are very close to each other: A narrow therapeutic index means there is a small margin between the minimum effective concentration and the toxic concentration. Small dosing errors or individual variations in metabolism can lead to toxicity or subtherapeutic effects, requiring close monitoring.
B. The drug has a wide range between its effective dose and toxic dose: This describes a drug with a wide therapeutic index, which allows more flexibility in dosing without significant risk of toxicity. Narrow therapeutic index drugs are the opposite and require precise dosing.
C. The drug requires infrequent monitoring of serum levels: Medications with a narrow therapeutic index often require frequent serum level monitoring to ensure that the drug stays within the safe and effective range. This helps reduce the risk of adverse effects or treatment failure.
D. The drug has a high margin of safety in clinical use: A high margin of safety is characteristic of drugs with a wide therapeutic index. Narrow therapeutic index drugs have a low safety margin and pose higher risks if not carefully dosed and monitored.
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