A patient who has undergone an esophagectomy for esophageal cancer develops increasing pain, fever, and dyspnea when a full liquid diet is started postoperatively. The nurse recognizes that these symptoms are most indicative of:

An intolerance to the feedings

Esophageal perforation with fistula formation into the lung

Extension of the tumor into the aorta

Leakage of fluids into the mediastinum

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

A. An intolerance to the feedings might cause discomfort, but it would not typically cause increasing pain, fever, and dyspnea. These symptoms are more indicative of a serious complication.
B. Esophageal perforation with fistula formation into the lung is the most likely cause of these symptoms. A perforation can lead to leakage of gastric contents into the pleural space or mediastinum, causing fever, pain, and respiratory distress. The formation of a fistula between the esophagus and the lung would lead to dyspnea.
C. Extension of the tumor into the aorta is a rare complication that would typically manifest with symptoms related to cardiovascular issues, not gastrointestinal symptoms like fever and dyspnea.
D. Leakage of fluids into the mediastinum is a possible cause of the symptoms, but esophageal perforation with a fistula into the lung is more directly linked to these specific symptoms, especially dyspnea.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. Positioning the head of the bed at 10 degrees is not sufficient for optimizing respiratory function. Typically, the head of the bed should be elevated to 30–45 degrees to help with breathing and reduce the risk of aspiration.
B. Encouraging fluid intake of 1500 mL/day may be too low for a client with pneumonia. Adequate hydration is important to thin mucus and help with expectoration, especially in the context of pneumonia. Typically, fluid intake should be higher unless contraindicated.
C. Coughing and deep breathing every 8 hours is insufficient. To prevent atelectasis and promote effective clearance of secretions in clients with pneumonia, coughing and deep breathing should be done more frequently, typically every 2 hours.
D. Obtaining a sputum culture is a priority for determining the specific pathogen causing the pneumonia and guiding antibiotic treatment. A sputum culture helps identify bacterial, viral, or fungal organisms that may be present, which is crucial for managing recurrent pneumonia, especially in an immunocompromised client with AIDS.

A. 3% sodium chloride B. Lactated Ringer's C. 0.9% sodium chloride D. Dextrose 10% in water

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. 3% sodium chloride is a hypertonic solution used to treat severe hyponatremia and should not be used as a substitute for TPN.
B. Lactated Ringer's is an isotonic solution typically used for fluid resuscitation, but it lacks the necessary components (glucose, amino acids) that are found in TPN.
C. 0.9% sodium chloride is an isotonic saline solution and can be used for hydration, but it does not provide the calories and nutrients that the client is receiving through TPN.
D. Dextrose 10% in water is the best choice in this scenario. It provides glucose for energy and can help maintain blood sugar levels until the next TPN solution is available. It is commonly used as a temporary substitute for TPN to prevent hypoglycemia.

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A patient who has undergone an esophagectomy for esophageal cancer develops increasing pain, fever, and dyspnea when a full liquid diet is started postoperatively. The nurse recognizes that these symptoms are most indicative of:

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is implementing a plan of care for a client who has AIDS with recurring pneumonia. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A nurse is preparing to administer meperidine 35 mg IM to a client every 6 hr PRN for pain. Available is meperidine injection 75 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

A client diagnosed with type II diabetes is prescribed prednisone for an acute exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease. Which management strategy should the nurse discuss with the client?

A patient who has undergone an esophagectomy for esophageal cancer develops increasing pain, fever, and dyspnea when a full liquid diet is started postoperatively. The nurse recognizes that these symptoms are most indicative of:

The nurse is completing discharge teaching with a patient following an ileostomy. Which statement by the patient indicates the need for more teaching concerning the ileostomy?

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