The healthcare provider writes several prescriptions for a client diagnosed with hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) that include a combination of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
Monitor the client’s metabolic panel results during antibiotic therapy.
Schedule prescribed nebulizer treatments with respiratory therapy.
Collect blood specimens for culture prior to starting antibiotic therapy.
Review medical record for results of a chest x-ray taken on admission.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A reason: Monitoring the metabolic panel detects antibiotic side effects like renal toxicity, but this is ongoing. Collecting blood cultures first identifies the HAP pathogen, ensuring targeted therapy. Premature antibiotics may obscure results, leading to resistance, making cultures more urgent for effective treatment of this nosocomial infection.
Choice B reason: Nebulizer treatments aid airway clearance in HAP, but identifying the pathogen via cultures is critical before antibiotics. Ineffective therapy delays recovery, as bacteria proliferate in mucus. Cultures guide precise antibiotic selection, reducing resistance risk, making this less immediate than obtaining microbiological data.
Choice C reason: Collecting blood cultures before antibiotics identifies the HAP pathogen (e.g., MRSA) and its sensitivity, critical for tailoring therapy. Broad-spectrum antibiotics can yield false-negative cultures, complicating treatment. This ensures accurate diagnosis, optimizing outcomes in severe infections, addressing the microbiological basis of HAP management.
Choice D reason: Reviewing chest x-ray confirms HAP with infiltrates but does not guide immediate antibiotic therapy. Cultures are urgent to identify the pathogen before antibiotics, as x-rays are non-specific and already documented. Cultures ensure pathogen-specific treatment, critical for combating hospital-acquired infections effectively.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Yellow purulent drainage indicates wound infection, likely from bacterial proliferation (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus) causing pus. This serious complication risks delayed healing, abscess, or sepsis, necessitating provider notification for cultures, antibiotics, or surgical intervention. Infection disrupts tissue repair, requiring urgent management to prevent systemic spread or wound dehiscence.
Choice B reason: Pink granulation tissue is normal in wound healing, reflecting angiogenesis and fibroblast activity during the proliferative phase. It indicates healthy tissue formation, not requiring notification. Purulent drainage, however, signals infection, a critical issue disrupting healing and risking complications, making it the priority finding for reporting.
Choice C reason: Serosanguineous fluid, a mix of serum and blood, is expected in early surgical wounds as capillaries heal. It does not indicate infection unless excessive. Purulent drainage is more urgent, directly suggesting bacterial infection, which can lead to serious complications like sepsis, requiring immediate provider attention.
Choice D reason: Approximated wound edges indicate proper closure and healing, reducing scarring and infection risk. This positive finding does not warrant notification. Yellow purulent drainage, conversely, signals infection, a critical complication requiring urgent intervention to prevent further tissue damage or systemic infection, making it the priority.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: A blood pressure of 100/80 mm Hg is low but not specific for renal perfusion without context. Urinary output directly reflects kidney function, with 30 mL/hour indicating possible oliguria. Monitoring output is critical, per renal assessment and acute kidney injury management protocols in nursing care.
Choice B reason: Abdominal pulse on inspection is unrelated to renal perfusion, typically indicating vascular issues like aneurysms. Urinary output is a direct indicator of kidney function, with 30 mL/hour suggesting reduced perfusion. This is irrelevant, per renal assessment and diagnostic standards in nephrology nursing.
Choice C reason: Urinalysis with 1 to 4 WBC/lpf is within normal range and suggests no infection. Urinary output of 30 mL/hour is concerning for decreased renal perfusion, requiring close monitoring. WBCs are less critical, per renal function and acute kidney injury assessment guidelines in nursing.
Choice D reason: Urinary output of 30 mL/hour indicates possible oliguria, a key sign of decreased renal perfusion. Monitoring this parameter assesses kidney function, guiding interventions to prevent acute kidney injury. It is the most direct indicator, per renal perfusion and critical care protocols in nephrology nursing practice.
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