A nurse is caring for a client who sustained burns in an enclosed space and is exhibiting singed nasal hair, black sputum and smoky smelling breath. What is the nurse’s priority intervention?
Administering pain medication
Applying a cool, wet cloth to burned areas.
Administering high flow oxygen via a non-rebreather mask
Initiating intravenous fluid resuscitation
The Correct Answer is C
A. Administering pain medication: Pain management is essential, but in this case, the primary concern is potential airway compromise due to inhalation injury, which should be addressed first.
B. Applying a cool, wet cloth to burned areas: Cooling burned areas can help with pain and reduce burn severity but is not the priority in a case of suspected inhalation injury with airway compromise.
C. Administering high-flow oxygen via a non-rebreather mask: This client is at high risk for respiratory compromise due to inhalation injury; administering high-flow oxygen is the priority to ensure adequate oxygenation.
D. Initiating intravenous fluid resuscitation: Fluid resuscitation is essential for burn patients but is not the immediate priority over addressing potential airway and oxygenation issues.
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Mild wheezing: Mild wheezing can be a common symptom in COPD and does not immediately indicate a severe complication unless it worsens suddenly.
B. Fatigue and general malaise: Fatigue and malaise are often chronic in COPD and do not necessarily indicate an acute complication.
C. Increased sputum production: While increased sputum could suggest an infection, it is not the most urgent sign of a severe complication.
D. Sudden onset chest pain and dyspnea: Sudden chest pain and dyspnea are concerning for a pneumothorax or pulmonary embolism, both of which are potential complications in COPD and require immediate attention.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Interferon Gamma Release Assays (IGRAs): IGRAs are useful for detecting TB infection but do not confirm active TB disease. They measure the immune response to TB bacteria but don’t differentiate between latent and active infection.
B. Sputum culture: Sputum culture is the gold standard for confirming active TB because it identifies Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria directly, confirming active infection.
C. Tuberculin Skin Test (TST): The TST can indicate TB infection but cannot distinguish between latent and active TB, making it unsuitable as a confirmatory test for active disease.
D. Chest X-ray: A chest X-ray can show signs suggestive of TB but cannot confirm the presence of TB bacteria, so it is not definitive for diagnosing active TB.