The nurse is caring for a patient with shallow respirations and diminished breath sounds following abdominal surgery yesterday.
Which are the appropriate actions of the nurse? (Select all that apply.)
Teach the patient to splint the incision when coughing to minimize pain.
Assist the patient to sit up in the chair and ambulate in the hallway.
Watch the patient use the incentive spirometer and ensure hourly usage.
Dim the lights, provide warm blankets, and maintain a quiet environment.
Maintain patient privacy and use therapeutic touch as desired by the patient.
Correct Answer : A,B,C
Choice A rationale:
Splinting the incision when coughing helps to minimize pain and discomfort, which can encourage deeper breathing and coughing. This is essential because deep breathing and coughing help to clear secretions from the lungs and prevent atelectasis (collapse of lung tissue).
Steps for splinting the incision:
Place a pillow or folded towel over the incision site.
Instruct the patient to apply gentle pressure to the pillow or towel with their hands when coughing or deep breathing. Encourage the patient to relax their abdominal muscles during coughing and deep breathing exercises.
Choice B rationale:
Sitting up in a chair and ambulating promote lung expansion and help to mobilize secretions. This is because gravity assists in moving secretions from the smaller airways into the larger airways, where they can be more easily coughed up.
Additional benefits of sitting up and ambulating: Improved circulation
Decreased risk of pneumonia Enhanced recovery from surgery Choice C rationale:
Using an incentive spirometer hourly helps to increase lung capacity and prevent atelectasis. The device encourages the patient to take slow, deep breaths, which helps to inflate the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs.
Instructions for using an incentive spirometer:
Sit upright in a chair or bed.
Place the mouthpiece of the spirometer in your mouth and seal your lips around it.
Inhale slowly and deeply through the mouthpiece, aiming to raise the piston inside the device as high as possible. Hold your breath for 3-5 seconds.
Exhale slowly and completely through the mouthpiece.
Repeat the process 10-15 times per hour, or as instructed by your healthcare provider.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Generic drugs are chemically identical to their brand-name counterparts, meaning they have the same active ingredients, dosage form, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics, and intended use. They are considered therapeutically equivalent to brand-name drugs by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Here are the key reasons why a patient would likely receive a generic version if the insurance company declines to cover the brand-name drug:
Cost: Generic drugs are significantly less expensive than brand-name drugs. This is because generic drug manufacturers do not have to repeat the extensive research and development costs associated with the original brand-name drug. They can enter the market after the brand-name drug's patent expires, leading to substantial cost savings.
Insurance Coverage: Insurance companies often have preferred drug lists (formularies) that prioritize generic drugs due to their cost-effectiveness. If a brand-name drug is not on the formulary or requires a high co-pay, the insurance company may encourage or even require the use of a generic alternative to manage costs.
Availability: Generic drugs are often widely available in pharmacies, making them readily accessible to patients. This availability further contributes to their cost-effectiveness and convenience.
I'm unable to provide lengthy rationales for the other choices as they are not relevant to the correct answer.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Stage 2 pressure injuries are characterized by partial-thickness loss of skin layers involving the epidermis and/or dermis. They present as a red, blistered area, often with an intact or ruptured serum-filled blister. The wound bed is typically moist and may be painful. There is no exposure of underlying bone, tendon, or muscle.
Key features of Stage 2 pressure injuries that align with the patient's presentation:
Red, blistered area: This is a hallmark sign of Stage 2, indicating tissue damage and inflammation in the epidermis and dermis. Large size: The size of the wound suggests more extensive tissue damage, consistent with Stage 2 rather than Stage 1.
Absence of deeper tissue involvement: The absence of exposed bone, tendon, or muscle rules out Stage 3 or 4 pressure injuries.
Rationales for other choices:
Choice B: Stage 4
Stage 4 pressure injuries involve full-thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon, or muscle. This is not consistent with the patient's presentation, which does not describe exposed deeper tissues.
Choice C: Stage 3
Stage 3 pressure injuries involve full-thickness tissue loss, but without exposed bone, tendon, or muscle. They often present with a deep crater-like appearance and may have undermining or tunneling. The patient's wound does not exhibit these features, making Stage 3 less likely.
Choice D: Stage 1
Stage 1 pressure injuries are characterized by intact skin with non-blanchable redness over a bony prominence. They do not involve blisters or open wounds. The patient's presentation clearly exceeds the features of Stage 1.
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