When administering oxygen to clients with conditions such as emphysema, it is important for the nurse to remember that for these clients the

A. The client's sputum is white colored:White sputum may be normal for a client with COPD and often indicates chronic inflammation without infection. It does not signal an acute or emergent issue that requires immediate intervention.

B. The client's arterial blood gas CO₂ level is 76 mm Hg:A CO₂ level this high indicates significant hypercapnia, which can lead to respiratory acidosis and altered mental status. This finding reflects serious respiratory compromise and requires prompt intervention to prevent respiratory failure.

C. The client's pulse oximeter is 90%:While 90% is on the lower end of acceptable for clients with end-stage COPD, it is often tolerated due to their adapted baseline. It does not represent an immediate threat unless accompanied by other signs of deterioration.

D. The client has mild SOB when walking to the bathroom:Mild shortness of breath with exertion is expected in clients with advanced COPD. It reflects baseline activity tolerance and does not require urgent action unless symptoms worsen.

A. WBC:The white blood cell count helps identify infection or inflammation but is not used to monitor the therapeutic effect of heparin. It does not provide information on anticoagulation status or bleeding risk.

B. D-dimer:D-dimer is useful for diagnosing or ruling out a PE initially but is not used to monitor treatment. Once anticoagulation has begun, D-dimer levels are not reliable indicators of therapeutic effectiveness.

C. PT/INR:PT/INR is used to monitor warfarin therapy, not heparin. Heparin affects the intrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade, and PT/INR does not accurately reflect its anticoagulant effect.

D. aPTT:The activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is the correct test to monitor heparin therapy. It measures the efficacy of the intrinsic clotting pathway and helps determine if the heparin dose is within the therapeutic range.