A client who was admitted yesterday with bilateral pneumonia has congested breath sounds, an oxygen saturation of 94%, a weak cough effort, and is using accessory muscles to breathe. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
Suction to clear secretions from the airway.
Offer a prescribed PRN analgesic.
Obtain arterial blood gases.
Administer a prescribed antipyretic.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale
Suctioning to clear secretions from the airway is the first intervention to implement. The client’s weak cough effort and use of accessory muscles to breathe suggest the presence of retained respiratory secretions, which can impair breathing and lead to further respiratory compromise.
Choice B rationale
Offering a prescribed PRN analgesic is important for overall comfort but is not the most immediate intervention needed to address the client’s respiratory distress.
Choice C rationale
Obtaining arterial blood gases may provide valuable information but is not the most immediate intervention needed to address the client’s respiratory distress.
Choice D rationale
Administering a prescribed antipyretic is not the most immediate intervention needed to address the client’s respiratory distress.
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Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Obtaining vital signs every 2 hours is important for monitoring the patient’s overall condition, but it is not the immediate priority following the surgical removal of glass from the eye.
Choice B rationale
Providing an eye shield to be worn while sleeping is crucial to protect the eye from injury and promote healing after the surgical removal of glass. This intervention helps prevent accidental rubbing or pressure on the eye.
Choice C rationale
Teaching a family member to administer eye drops is important for ongoing care, but it is not the immediate priority following the procedure. The immediate focus should be on protecting the eye and ensuring proper healing.
Choice D rationale
Encouraging deep breathing and coughing exercises is important for preventing respiratory complications, but it is not directly related to the immediate care of the eye following the surgical removal of glass.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Anxiety and grieving are important issues but are not the priority when the client is at risk for aspiration.
Choice B rationale
Chronic pain is significant, but the immediate risk of aspiration due to dysphagia takes precedence.
Choice C rationale
Risk for aspiration related to difficulty swallowing is the priority nursing problem. Aspiration can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia.
Choice D rationale
Imbalanced nutrition is important but is secondary to the immediate risk of aspiration.