A nurse in a rehabilitation unit is assessing a group of clients who have a traumatic brain injury. The nurse should identify that which of the following clients requires a priority referral?
A client who needs assistance when ambulating.
A client who consistently has difficulty using utensils while eating.
A client who has expressive aphasia.
A client who consistently coughs after drinking liquids.
The Correct Answer is D
The correct answer is Choice D.
Choice A rationale: Ambulation assistance is expected in rehabilitation. It reflects motor recovery needs but does not pose an immediate safety or health risk requiring urgent referral.
Choice B rationale: Difficulty using utensils indicates fine motor deficits. While important for occupational therapy, it’s not a priority compared to airway protection concerns.
Choice C rationale: Expressive aphasia affects communication but does not compromise physical safety or airway integrity. Speech therapy is appropriate but not urgent.
Choice D rationale: Coughing after drinking signals aspiration risk. This can lead to pneumonia or airway obstruction, requiring immediate referral to speech-language pathology for swallow evaluation.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Lying down while practicing pursed-lip breathing is not the correct instruction. Pursed-lip breathing is usually performed in a sitting or standing position. Lying down can restrict lung expansion and may not effectively support the purpose of this breathing technique, which is to improve airway pressure and reduce air trapping.
Choice B rationale:
"Exhale slowly through your mouth" is the correct instruction for pursed-lip breathing. This technique involves inhaling through the nose for a count of two and exhaling slowly and steadily through pursed lips for a count of four. The goal is to promote better exhalation, prevent airway collapse, and improve oxygen exchange. The rationale behind this choice is grounded in the mechanics of pursed-lip breathing, which helps create backpressure in the airways, maintaining them open and aiding in proper exhalation.

Choice C rationale:
Inhaling through pursed lips contradicts the proper sequence of pursed-lip breathing. The technique involves inhaling through the nose and exhaling through pursed lips. Inhaling through pursed lips would not provide the intended benefits of the technique.
Choice D rationale:
"Puff your cheeks when exhaling" is not the correct instruction. Puffing the cheeks during exhalation does not contribute to the effectiveness of pursed-lip breathing. This action could potentially impede proper exhalation and defeat the purpose of the technique, which is to control airflow and improve breathing efficiency.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The correct answer is choiceC. “I’ll compare the sensations I feel when I tense my muscles to what I feel when I relax them.”
Choice A rationale:While breathing normally is important during relaxation techniques, progressive muscle relaxation specifically focuses on tensing and relaxing muscle groups to recognize the difference in sensations.
Choice B rationale:Imagining a peaceful setting is more related to guided imagery or visualization techniques, not progressive muscle relaxation.
Choice C rationale:This is correct because progressive muscle relaxation involves tensing and then relaxing muscle groups to help the individual recognize the difference between tension and relaxation.
Choice D rationale:Using a series of stretches is not a part of progressive muscle relaxation; it is more related to stretching exercises or yoga.
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