A patient who has been taking antihypertensive drugs for a few months states that a new, persistent dry cough is very bothersome. The nurse knows that this cough is an adverse effect of which class of antihypertensive drugs?

A. Hold the hands higher than the elbows. Hands should be held lower than the elbows to allow water to flow from the fingertips downward, preventing contamination of clean areas by dirty water.

B. Rub hands and arms to dry. Hands should be dried by patting rather than rubbing to prevent skin irritation. Also, drying should focus on the hands first, then the wrists, and then the forearms to avoid recontamination.

C. Apply 4 to 5 mL of liquid soap to the hands. The recommended amount of liquid soap is 3 to 5 mL to effectively remove microorganisms. Using too little may not clean adequately, and using too much can make rinsing difficult.

D. Adjust the water temperature to feel hot. Water should be warm, not hot, to prevent skin irritation and dryness. Hot water can damage the skin’s natural protective barrier, increasing susceptibility to infection.

A. Pleural effusion: A pleural effusion is the accumulation of fluid in the pleural space and is not directly related to atelectasis. Atelectasis is alveolar collapse and does not cause fluid buildup.

B. Hypoxemia: Atelectasis impairs gas exchange, leading to decreased oxygen levels (hypoxemia) due to collapsed alveoli. This is a hallmark finding.

C. Dysphagia: Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) is not a direct symptom of atelectasis. It may be seen in stroke or esophageal disorders.

D. Apnea: Apnea (cessation of breathing) is not a typical sign of atelectasis. Atelectasis causes shallow breathing, dyspnea, and hypoxia rather than complete cessation.