A nurse is planning care for a patient who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is experiencing dyspnea at rest. Which of the following interventions should be included in the plan of care?(Select all that apply.).
Positioning the patient in high Fowler's position.
Encouraging deep breathing and coughing exercises.
Administering bronchodilators and corticosteroids as ordered.
Providing supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula as ordered.
Restricting fluid intake to prevent fluid overload.
Correct Answer : A,C,D
Choice A:
Positioning the patient in high Fowler's position. This is a correct intervention because it allows for optimal chest expansion and lung ventilation, reducing dyspnea and work of breathing.
Choice B:
Encouraging deep breathing and coughing exercises. This is an incorrect intervention because it may increase dyspnea and fatigue in a patient with COPD who already has difficulty breathing. Instead, the nurse should teach pursed-lip breathing and diaphragmatic breathing techniques to improve gas exchange and reduce air trapping.
Choice C:
Administering bronchodilators and corticosteroids as ordered. This is a correct intervention because these medications help to relax the smooth muscles of the airways, reduce inflammation, and improve airflow in a patient with COPD.
Choice D:
Providing supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula as ordered. This is a correct intervention because oxygen therapy helps to correct hypoxemia, reduce pulmonary hypertension, and improve exercise tolerance and quality of life in a patient with COPD. The nurse should monitor the oxygen saturation and adjust the flow rate according to the prescription and the patient's response.
Choice E:
Restricting fluid intake to prevent fluid overload. This is an incorrect intervention because fluid restriction is not indicated for a patient with COPD unless there is evidence of heart failure or renal impairment. Adequate hydration helps to thin the secretions and facilitate expectoration in a patient with COPD. The nurse should encourage oral fluids unless contraindicated and monitor the fluid balance and electrolytes of the patient.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason:
Administering nitroglycerin sublingually as ordered is the next priority action for the nurse because nitroglycerin is a medication that relaxes the heart arteries and improves blood flow to the heart muscle, which can relieve chest pain and shortness of breath caused by coronary artery disease. Nitroglycerin can also lower blood pressure, which can help reduce the workload of the heart and prevent further damage to the heart muscle. Nitroglycerin is a fast-acting medication that should be given as soon as possible after chest pain occurs or is suspected.
Choice B reason:
Obtaining a complete health history from the patient is not the next priority action for the nurse because it is not an urgent intervention that can address the patient's immediate needs. A complete health history can provide valuable information about the patient's risk factors, past medical history, medications, allergies, and family history, but it can also take a long time to obtain and may not be feasible if the patient is in pain or distress. A complete health history can be obtained later after the patient's condition is stabilized and more urgent interventions are done.
Choice C reason:
Educating the patient about lifestyle modifications is not the next priority action for the nurse because it is not an acute intervention that can relieve the patient's symptoms or prevent further complications. Lifestyle modifications such as quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, managing stress, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels are important for preventing or managing coronary artery disease in the long term, but they do not have an immediate effect on the patient's condition. Educating the patient about lifestyle modifications can be done later after the patient's condition is improved and the patient is ready to learn.
Choice D reason:
Preparing the patient for cardiac catheterization is not the next priority action for the nurse because it is not a definitive intervention that can confirm or rule out coronary artery disease or other causes of chest pain and shortness of breath. Cardiac catheterization is a diagnostic procedure that involves inserting a thin tube into an artery in the groin or arm and advancing it to the heart to inject contrast dye and take X-ray images of the heart and blood vessels. Cardiac catheterization can help identify blockages or narrowing in the coronary arteries that may cause chest pain and shortness of breath, but it also carries some risks such as bleeding, infection, allergic reaction, kidney damage, or heart attack. Cardiac catheterization may be ordered by the physician after other tests such as ECG, blood tests, or.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason:
Assessing the patient's vital signs and oxygen saturation is the first step in evaluating the patient's response to pain medication. This is because vital signs and oxygen saturation can indicate the severity of pain, the effectiveness of the medication, and the presence of any adverse effects such as respiratory depression or hypotension. Assessing vital signs and oxygen saturation is also consistent with the nursing process of assessment, which guides the nurse's subsequent actions.
Choice B reason:
Notifying the physician and requesting a different medication is not the first action that the nurse should take. The nurse should first assess the patient's condition and determine the cause of inadequate pain relief. The physician may not be available or may not agree to change the medication without further information. Changing the medication may also not be necessary or appropriate, depending on the patient's pain level, type of pain, allergies, contraindications, and preferences.
Choice C reason:
Reassessing the patient's pain level in another 15 minutes is not the first action that the nurse should take. The patient is reporting a high level of pain (8 out of 10) despite receiving morphine 10 mg intravenously 30 minutes ago. This indicates that the patient is experiencing breakthrough pain, which is a sudden increase in pain intensity that occurs despite adequate analgesia. Breakthrough pain requires immediate attention and intervention, not delayed reassessment.
Choice D reason:
Providing nonpharmacological interventions such as massage or distraction is not the first action that the nurse should take. Nonpharmacological interventions are complementary methods that can enhance the effect of pharmacological interventions, but they are not sufficient to treat severe acute pain by themselves. The nurse should first assess the patient's condition and administer additional analgesia if indicated and prescribed before implementing nonpharmacological interventions.
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