A client who had a bronchoscopy 2 hours ago asks for a drink of water. What action would the nurse take initially to assure client safety?
Assess the client’s gag reflex before giving any food or water.
Provide the client with ice chips instead of a drink of water.
Contact the primary healthcare provider and get the appropriate orders.
Let the client have a small sip to evaluate the ability to swallow.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A Reason:
Assessing the client’s gag reflex before giving any food or water is crucial after a bronchoscopy. The procedure involves the use of local anesthesia to numb the throat, which can impair the gag reflex and increase the risk of aspiration. Ensuring that the gag reflex has returned before allowing the client to eat or drink helps prevent choking and aspiration, which are serious complications.

Choice B Reason:
Providing the client with ice chips instead of a drink of water is not the best initial action. While ice chips may seem like a safer option, they still pose a risk of aspiration if the gag reflex has not fully returned. The priority is to first assess the gag reflex to ensure the client can safely swallow.
Choice C Reason:
Contacting the primary healthcare provider and getting the appropriate orders is not necessary as the first action. The nurse can independently assess the gag reflex, which is a standard nursing practice after procedures involving throat anesthesia. If there are concerns after the assessment, then contacting the healthcare provider would be appropriate.
Choice D Reason:
Letting the client have a small sip to evaluate the ability to swallow is not safe without first assessing the gag reflex. This approach could lead to aspiration if the gag reflex has not returned. The initial step should always be to assess the gag reflex to ensure the client can safely swallow liquids.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: An increase in temperature is not a primary indicator of hypovolemic shock. While fever can occur due to infection or inflammation, it is not directly related to hypovolemic shock, which is primarily characterized by a significant loss of blood or fluids leading to decreased perfusion and oxygenation of tissues.
Choice B reason: A decrease in urinary output is a critical sign of hypovolemic shock. When the body loses a significant amount of blood or fluids, the kidneys receive less blood flow, leading to reduced urine production. This is a compensatory mechanism to conserve fluids and maintain blood pressure. Normal urine output is typically around 30 to 50 mL per hour, so a drop below this range is concerning.
Choice C reason: An increase in heart rate is a common response to hypovolemic shock as the body attempts to maintain cardiac output and blood pressure despite the loss of blood volume. Tachycardia (increased heart rate) is one of the early signs of shock, indicating that the heart is working harder to pump blood to vital organs.
Choice D reason: A decrease in respiratory rate is not typical of hypovolemic shock. In fact, hypovolemic shock often leads to an increased respiratory rate (tachypnea) as the body tries to compensate for decreased oxygen delivery to tissues. A decrease in respiratory rate could indicate other issues but is not a hallmark of hypovolemic shock.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Nonfat milk is generally considered safe for individuals with GERD. While full-fat dairy products can exacerbate GERD symptoms due to their high-fat content, nonfat milk does not have this effect. It is low in fat and unlikely to trigger acid reflux. Therefore, nonfat milk is not a food that needs to be avoided by someone with GERD.
Choice B Reason:
Apples are typically safe for individuals with GERD. In fact, non-citrus fruits like apples are often recommended as part of a GERD-friendly diet. They are low in acid and unlikely to cause reflux symptoms. Therefore, apples do not need to be avoided by someone with GERD.
Choice C Reason:
Chocolate is a common trigger for GERD symptoms. It contains caffeine and theobromine, both of which can relax the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), allowing stomach acid to escape into the esophagus and cause reflux. Additionally, chocolate is high in fat, which can further exacerbate GERD symptoms. Therefore, it is advisable for individuals with GERD to avoid chocolate to prevent worsening of their symptoms.
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