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 A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Asking the client to describe the pain is the best approach to assess the quality of pain. This allows the nurse to gather detailed information about the pain’s characteristics.
Choice B rationale
Identifying effective pain relief measures is important but does not directly assess the quality of pain.
Choice C rationale
Observing body language and movement can provide clues about pain but is not as effective as directly asking the client to describe the pain.
Choice D rationale
Providing a numeric pain scale helps quantify the pain but does not provide detailed information about the pain’s quality.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Decreasing speaking speed may help with clarity, but it does not address the issue of hearing loss.
Choice B rationale
Over-enunciating word syllables can help the client understand speech better, especially if they have hearing difficulties. This technique makes it easier for the client to read lips and understand spoken words.
Choice C rationale
Raising voice volume to a shout can be uncomfortable and may not improve understanding. It can also be perceived as rude or aggressive.
Choice D rationale
Exaggerating nonverbal expressions may help with communication, but it is not as effective as over-enunciating word syllables for clients with hearing difficulties.