A nurse is preparing to discharge a client who is a status post-operative laryngectomy. The nurse should recognize which of the following discharge teaching is the highest priority?
Use of Passy Muir speaking valve
Phone number of healthcare provider to report complications
Emergency personal identification that client is unable to speak
Ability to perform tracheostomy care
The Correct Answer is C
A. Use of Passy Muir speaking valve: While this is an important aspect of communication for a client who has undergone a laryngectomy, it is not the highest priority at the time of discharge. The use of the speaking valve can be addressed after ensuring that the client is equipped to handle immediate safety concerns and emergencies related to their condition.
B. Phone number of healthcare provider to report complications: Providing the client with contact information for their healthcare provider is essential for ongoing support and to address any concerns that may arise after discharge. However, this information is secondary to ensuring the client can effectively communicate their condition and limitations, particularly in an emergency situation.
C. Emergency personal identification that client is unable to speak: This is the highest priority for discharge teaching because it directly addresses the client’s safety. Having emergency identification is crucial for informing healthcare providers and first responders about the client's inability to speak, especially in situations where communication may be vital for receiving appropriate care. Ensuring that the client can communicate their condition in emergencies takes precedence over other aspects of post-operative care.
D. Ability to perform tracheostomy care: While it is important for the client to be educated on tracheostomy care to ensure ongoing health and safety, this teaching can be considered after addressing immediate safety needs. The ability to care for the tracheostomy is vital but does not take priority over having emergency identification that communicates the client’s needs to others who may not be aware of their condition.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Increased arterial oxygen: Clients with COPD typically experience chronic hypoxemia due to alveolar destruction, airway inflammation, and mucus production, which impair gas exchange. Rather than increased oxygen levels, they often have a decreased PaO₂, requiring supplemental oxygen therapy. However, excessive oxygen administration can suppress their respiratory drive, worsening CO₂ retention.
B. Increased pH: COPD is associated with respiratory acidosis due to chronic CO₂ retention from inadequate alveolar ventilation. While the kidneys compensate by increasing bicarbonate retention, the pH usually remains low or near normal in chronic cases rather than becoming elevated. A higher pH would indicate alkalosis, which is not typical in COPD unless there is an additional metabolic disturbance.
C. Increased carbon dioxide: COPD causes airway obstruction and reduced alveolar ventilation, leading to CO₂ retention (hypercapnia). As CO₂ accumulates in the blood, it lowers the pH, resulting in respiratory acidosis. Chronic hypercapnia is a hallmark of advanced COPD, and in response, the kidneys retain bicarbonate to partially compensate, stabilizing the pH over time but leaving PaCO₂ elevated.
D. Decreased alveolar function: While COPD does lead to progressive alveolar damage and reduced gas exchange, this is a structural and functional change rather than a specific abnormality seen in arterial blood gases. The primary ABG finding in COPD is hypercapnia, which reflects inadequate ventilation and CO₂ retention rather than just decreased alveolar function alone.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. The number of medication errors committed by another nurse. Quality improvement focuses on systemic issues rather than individual performance. Addressing medication errors should involve evaluating factors such as workflow inefficiencies, high workloads, or unclear protocols rather than singling out a specific nurse. Identifying system-wide improvements enhances patient safety more effectively.
B. Systems that make it difficult for the nurses to do their job. Quality improvement initiatives aim to identify and correct systemic barriers that hinder nursing efficiency and patient care. Issues such as inadequate staffing, poor communication, or outdated technology can lead to errors and inefficiencies. Addressing these barriers can improve workflow, reduce mistakes, and enhance patient outcomes.
C. Collective bargaining activity at a nearby hospital. Discussions about union activities or labor disputes are not directly related to quality improvement. While working conditions can impact patient care, this topic is more relevant to human resources or labor relations than a quality improvement committee focused on systemic patient safety issues.
D. How unhappy the nurses are with their current pay. While job satisfaction is important, a quality improvement committee focuses on patient safety, workflow efficiency, and care outcomes. Salary concerns are best addressed through administration or labor negotiations rather than a committee designed to implement clinical and operational improvements.
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