The physician orders azithromycin 500 mg in 250 mL of D5W IVPB to be infused over 1.5 hours. Tubing drop factor is 15 gtt/mL Calculate the flow rate in drops per minute.

A. Pain at the insertion site:Mild to moderate pain is expected after chest tube placement and should be monitored, but it does not usually require immediate intervention unless it worsens or becomes severe. It is typically managed with routine analgesics.

B. Tracheal deviation:Tracheal deviation is a late and critical sign of tension pneumothorax, which requires immediate emergency intervention. It indicates severe pressure in the pleural space that can compress major vessels and impair cardiac output.

C. Drainage of 75 mL/hr:While slightly elevated, this drainage rate may be acceptable depending on the clinical context (e.g., post-thoracic surgery). The nurse should continue monitoring, but this does not require immediate action unless drainage exceeds 100–150 mL/hr.

D. Productive sputum:Productive sputum is not unusual in patients with underlying pulmonary conditions. Unless it is accompanied by signs of infection or changes in sputum color, amount, or consistency, it does not warrant immediate action.

E. Sudden onset of shortness of breath:A sudden change in respiratory status may indicate a complication such as tube dislodgement, blockage, or recurrent pneumothorax. This requires prompt evaluation and intervention to ensure adequate oxygenation and ventilation.

A. A 16-year-old female high school student:While TB can affect people of any age, high school students are generally not considered a high-risk group unless they have known exposure or immunosuppression. Routine exposure in school settings is relatively low.

B. A 54-year-old businessman:This client may be at risk depending on travel history or comorbidities, but business professionals typically have better access to healthcare and housing, reducing their baseline risk compared to other populations.

C. A 54-year-old businessman:Unless other risk factors are specified (e.g., foreign travel, immunocompromise), this demographic does not represent a high-risk group for TB in an outbreak situation.

D. A 43-year-old homeless man with a history of alcoholism:This client falls into a high-risk category for TB due to poor living conditions, potential malnutrition, and compromised immunity related to alcoholism. Homelessness and substance use are well-established risk factors for tuberculosis, especially during outbreaks.