The nurse caring for patients who are mechanically ventilated uses best practices to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia. What actions are included in this practice?

Choice A reason:

While obtaining a chest x-ray can help assess the patient's condition, it is not the immediate action needed in this situation. The patient's drop in SaO2 and agitation indicate an acute issue that needs to be addressed promptly.

Choice B reason:

Increasing the PEEP might help improve oxygenation, but it is not the first action to take. The presence of coarse crackles suggests the need to clear secretions first before adjusting ventilator settings.

Choice C reason:

Performing endotracheal suctioning is the appropriate immediate action. Coarse crackles indicate the presence of secretions in the airway, which can impair ventilation and oxygenation. Suctioning helps clear the airway and improve the patient's SaO2 levels.

Choice D reason:

Repositioning the patient can help with ventilation and comfort but is not the priority action when there are indications of airway obstruction. Clearing the airway through suctioning takes precedence in this scenario.

Choice A reason:

Administering Heparin to a patient who is already taking Warfarin and experiencing rectal bleeding is not appropriate. Heparin is an anticoagulant, similar to Warfarin, and would not help in reversing the anticoagulant effects of Warfarin. Instead, it could potentially exacerbate the bleeding.

Choice B reason:

Vitamin K is the correct answer because it acts as an antidote to Warfarin. Warfarin works by inhibiting the synthesis of Vitamin K-dependent clotting factors, so administering Vitamin K helps to reverse the effects of Warfarin and promote blood clotting, which is necessary to control the rectal bleeding in this patient.

Choice C reason:

Iron is not the appropriate treatment for rectal bleeding due to Warfarin. While iron supplements can help with anemia (which might result from chronic blood loss), they do not address the immediate need to reverse the anticoagulant effects of Warfarin and stop the active bleeding.

Choice D reason:

Protamine is used to reverse the effects of Heparin, not Warfarin. Therefore, administering Protamine would not be effective in addressing the Warfarin-induced rectal bleeding in this patient.