A nurse administers an opioid analgesic to a postoperative client who also has severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Which intervention is most important for the nurse to implement before leaving the client alone?
Apply the client’s positive airway pressure device.
Lift and lock the side rails in place.
Remove dentures or other oral appliances.
Elevate the head of the bed to a 45-degree angle.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale
Elevating the head of the bed to a 45-degree angle can help improve airway patency and reduce the risk of airway obstruction in clients with OSA. However, applying the positive airway pressure device (CPAP or BiPAP) takes precedence due to its direct impact on maintaining airway patency and preventing respiratory compromise.
Choice B rationale
Lifting and locking the side rails in place ensures the safety of the client but does not directly address the client’s OSA or the potential respiratory depression associated with opioid analgesic administration.
Choice C rationale
Applying the client’s positive airway pressure device is the most important intervention in this scenario. Clients with severe obstructive sleep apnea rely on positive airway pressure devices, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP), to maintain airway patency and prevent episodes of apnea during sleep. Applying the device before leaving the client alone ensures continuous support for effective breathing.
Choice D rationale
Removing dentures or other oral appliances may be necessary for client comfort and safety, but it is not directly related to managing OSA or preventing respiratory compromise associated with opioid analgesic administration.
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View Related questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Smoking cessation is the most important lifestyle modification for preventing and managing cardiac disease. Smoking is a major modifiable risk factor that can cause atherosclerosis, hypertension, arrhythmias, thrombosis, and myocardial infarction. Quitting smoking has a more direct effect on improving the function and structure of the blood vessels and heart, significantly reducing the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality.
Choice B rationale
A low-fat diet is a useful lifestyle modification for preventing and managing cardiac disease, but it is not the most important one. While it helps in lowering cholesterol levels and reducing inflammation, smoking cessation has a stronger influence on overall cardiovascular health.
Choice C rationale
Stress reduction is a helpful lifestyle modification for preventing and managing cardiac disease, but it is not the most important one. Although managing stress can improve heart health, smoking cessation has a more immediate and significant impact on reducing cardiovascular risks.
Choice D rationale
Regular exercise is beneficial for preventing and managing cardiac disease, but it is not the most important lifestyle modification. Exercise helps in maintaining a healthy weight, lowering blood pressure, and improving overall cardiovascular health, but smoking cessation has a greater impact on reducing the risk of cardiovascular events.
Correct Answer is ["A","B","D"]
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Determine client’s subjective measure of pain using a numerical pain scale. Assessing the client’s pain using a numerical pain scale allows the nurse to understand the client’s perception of their pain and to monitor changes over time. This is a crucial step in managing chronic pain as it provides a baseline for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions.
Choice B rationale
Implement a 24-hour schedule of routine administration of prescribed analgesic. Chronic pain management often requires a consistent and routine administration of analgesics to maintain a stable level of pain control. This approach helps to prevent the peaks and troughs of pain that can occur with as-needed dosing.
Choice C rationale
Assist the client to ambulate as much as possible during waking hours. While ambulation can be beneficial for some clients, it may not be appropriate for all clients with chronic pain, especially if the pain is severe or if ambulation exacerbates the pain. Therefore, this intervention should be individualized based on the client’s condition.
Choice D rationale
Provide comfort measures such as topical warm application and tactile massage. Non- pharmacological interventions such as warm applications and massage can help to alleviate pain and improve comfort. These measures can be used in conjunction with pharmacological treatments to provide a more comprehensive approach to pain management.
Choice E rationale
Encourage increased fluid intake and measure urinary output every 8 hours. While maintaining adequate hydration is important, this intervention is not directly related to the management of chronic pain. It may be more relevant for clients with other conditions such as renal issues.