While obtaining a client's health history related to smoking cigarettes, the nurse plans to determine the client's smoking pack years. What information should the nurse obtain for this calculation? Select all that apply.

Number of attempts to quit smoking.

Client's current age.

Age when the client started smoking.

Packs of cigarettes smoked per day.

Number of years the client smoked.

Answer and Explanation

Correct Answer : C,D,E

Answer: C. Age when the client started smoking.
Knowing when the client began smoking is essential for determining the total duration of smoking. This information allows the nurse to calculate how long the client has been exposed to tobacco, which is critical for assessing potential health risks associated with their smoking history.

D. Packs of cigarettes smoked per day.
This information is crucial as it directly contributes to the calculation of pack years. Understanding how many packs the client smokes each day helps quantify their level of tobacco exposure. For instance, smoking one pack per day for ten years results in ten pack years, while two packs per day over the same period would lead to twenty pack years.

E. Number of years the client smoked.
This detail is necessary to determine the total duration of the smoking habit. The total number of years smoked, combined with the daily pack consumption, provides a comprehensive view of the client's smoking history. It allows the nurse to assess the cumulative risk associated with long-term tobacco use, which is important for evaluating the client’s health and potential interventions.

Rationale for Options Not Selected:

A. Number of attempts to quit smoking.
While this information can provide insight into the client's motivation and efforts to quit, it is not relevant for calculating pack years. Pack years focus specifically on the amount and duration of smoking, rather than attempts to quit, which may be useful in assessing readiness for cessation interventions but does not factor into the calculation of exposure.

B. Client's current age.
Although the client's age can provide context regarding their smoking history, it is not necessary for the actual calculation of pack years. Instead, it is the age when the client started smoking, along with the total years smoked and the number of packs smoked per day, that are critical for this specific assessment. The current age is not needed to compute pack years directly.

Summary of Calculation:

To calculate pack years, use the formula:

Pack Years = (Number of packs smoked per day) × (Number of years smoked)

For example, if a client smoked 1 pack per day for 20 years, they would have 20 pack years. If they smoked 2 packs a day for the same period, that would equate to 40 pack years. This measurement is essential for understanding the health risks associated with smoking and guiding further assessment and intervention strategies.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A) Looking at the client from the side, observe the size and shape of the chest wall:
This action is more related to inspecting the physical appearance and symmetry of the chest wall but does not assess tactile fremitus.

B) Use the fingertips to compress tissue over the lungs for evidence of a crackling sensation:
This action may be more relevant for assessing subcutaneous emphysema (crepitus) but is not the correct method for assessing tactile fremitus.

C) Place the palm of the hand on the chest wall to feel vibrations while the client speaks:
This is the correct action to assess tactile fremitus. By placing the palm of the hand on various areas of the chest wall while the client repeats a phrase such as "ninety-nine," the nurse can feel for vibrations. Increased tactile fremitus can indicate consolidation, as seen in pneumonia.

D) Use a stethoscope to listen to and compare breath sounds anteriorly and posteriorly:
This action involves auscultation, which is important for assessing breath sounds but does not assess tactile fremitus directly.

A. Encourage fluid intake. B. Measure urine output. C. Splint the affected joint. D. Increase intake of red meat.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Encourage fluid intake:
Encouraging fluid intake is the most appropriate action for the client experiencing gout, as it helps to promote the excretion of uric acid through urine. Increased fluid intake can help prevent the formation of urate crystals in the joints and reduce the severity and frequency of gout attacks. It is a fundamental aspect of managing gout and preventing future episodes.

B. Measure urine output:
While monitoring urine output is important for overall assessment, it is not specifically indicated in the management of acute gout attacks. Gout is primarily managed by addressing hyperuricemia and reducing inflammation in the affected joints, which is best achieved through hydration and pharmacological interventions.

C. Splint the affected joint:
Splinting the affected joint may provide some relief by immobilizing it and reducing movement, but it does not address the underlying cause of gout or promote the excretion of uric acid. Splinting is more commonly used in the management of injuries or conditions that require joint stabilization.

D. Increase intake of red meat:
Increasing intake of red meat is contraindicated in clients with gout because red meat contains high levels of purines, which can exacerbate hyperuricemia and increase the risk of gout attacks. Dietary modifications for gout typically involve reducing the consumption of foods high in purines, such as red meat, organ meats, and certain seafood.

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While obtaining a client's health history related to smoking cigarettes, the nurse plans to determine the client's smoking pack years. What information should the nurse obtain for this calculation? Select all that apply.

Summary of Calculation:

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

In assessing tactile fremitus in the client with suspected pneumonia, the nurse should perform which action?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The nurse examines a client's right great toe. The joint is red, edematous, and very painful with limited range of motion. The client's serum uric acid levels are elevated. Which action should the nurse tell the client to make?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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