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Exhibit 1: History and Physical

 

The client is a 51-year-old male admitted to the medical floor with a diagnosis of pneumonia. He reports a 3-day history of productive cough, shortness of breath, and fever. He also mentions increased fatigue and weakness over the last week. The client has a history of hypertension, which is controlled with enalapril 10 mg daily. His surgical history includes adenoidectomy at age 5 and surgical repair of a fractured femur at age 20. The client takes a multivitamin daily and has no known allergies. He is a non-smoker and reports occasional alcohol use.

 

Exhibit 2: Nurse's Notes (0800)

 

At 0800, the client was alert but appeared fatigued and short of breath. His oxygen saturation was 89% on room air, and he was placed on supplemental oxygen at 10 L/min via nasal cannula, which improved his saturation to 94%. The client stated, “I feel tired and weak, and it’s hard to breathe.” His skin was warm to the touch, and he had a productive cough with thick, yellow sputum. He reported a headache and body aches, rating his pain as 4/10. The client denied chest pain but reported feeling feverish throughout the night. His capillary refill was less than 3 seconds, and lung sounds were diminished with crackles heard bilaterally.

 

Exhibit 3: Vital Signs

• Time: 0800
• Temperature: 101.2°F (38.4°C)
• Pulse: 112 beats per minute
• Respiratory Rate: 28 breaths per minute
• Blood Pressure: 150/92 mmHg
• Oxygen Saturation: 89% on room air, 94% on 10 L/min nasal cannula

 

 

Exhibit 4: Physical Examination Results

 

Upon physical examination, the client appeared ill and was in mild respiratory distress, with shallow and rapid breathing. His skin was warm and flushed, and he was diaphoretic. Lung auscultation revealed bilateral crackles in the lower lobes, more pronounced on the right side. There were no wheezes or rhonchi noted. His heart sounds were regular, but tachycardia was present. The client’s abdomen was soft and non-tender with normal bowel sounds. No edema was noted in the extremities, and there were no visible rashes or skin abnormalities. The client’s capillary refill was normal, and neurological assessment showed no focal deficits.

 

Exhibit 5: Provider's Prescriptions

1. Admit to the medical floor
2. Vital signs every 4 hours
3. Continuous pulse oximetry
4. Supplemental oxygen 10 L/min via nasal cannula
5. Enalapril 10 mg PO every morning
6. Ibuprofen 400 mg PO every 4 to 6 hours PRN for temperature greater than 100.5°F (38.0°C)
7. Send blood for complete blood count and electrolytes
8. Chest X-ray now

 

Question: Which of the following provider's prescriptions would the nurse question? Select all that apply.

Choice A rationale:

 Enalapril is an ACE inhibitor used to manage hypertension. While it is generally safe, in the context of pneumonia, it can potentially cause complications such as hypotension, especially if the patient becomes septic or dehydrated. Additionally, ACE inhibitors can cause a persistent cough, which might be confused with or exacerbate the symptoms of pneumonia.

Choice B rationale:

 Admitting the patient to the medical floor is appropriate given the diagnosis of pneumonia and the patient’s symptoms. Hospitalization allows for close monitoring and administration of necessary treatments.

Choice C rationale:

 Sending blood for a complete blood count and electrolytes is standard practice to assess the patient’s overall health and identify any potential complications such as electrolyte imbalances or infection severity.

Choice D rationale:

 Supplemental oxygen at 10 L/min via nasal cannula is quite high and typically not the first choice for pneumonia patients. High-flow oxygen therapy or non-invasive ventilation might be more appropriate if the patient requires such high levels of oxygen. Generally, nasal cannulas are used for lower flow rates (up to 6 L/min), and higher flow rates can cause discomfort and nasal dryness.

Choice E rationale:

 Ibuprofen is commonly used to manage fever and pain in pneumonia patients. It helps reduce fever and alleviate discomfort, which can improve the patient’s overall condition.

Choice F rationale:

 Continuous pulse oximetry is appropriate for monitoring the patient’s oxygen saturation levels, especially given the initial low oxygen saturation on room air.

Choice G rationale:

 Vital signs every 4 hours is a standard practice for monitoring patients with pneumonia to detect any changes in their condition promptly.

Choice H rationale:

 A chest X-ray is essential for diagnosing and assessing the extent of pneumonia. It helps in identifying the presence of infiltrates, consolidation, or other complications.