A nurse in the emergency department is assessing an older adult client who has community-acquired pneumonia. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
Hypertension
Unequal pupils
Confusion
Tympany upon chest percussion
The Correct Answer is C
A. Hypertension is not typically associated with pneumonia, especially in older adults. Pneumonia can lead to hypotension or sepsis, but not usually hypertension.
B. Unequal pupils are not a typical finding associated with pneumonia. This could suggest a neurological issue or a possible eye problem, not a respiratory infection.
C. Confusion is a common sign of pneumonia in older adults, especially in the elderly, who may present with altered mental status due to hypoxia, infection, or dehydration. Delirium or confusion is a common manifestation of pneumonia in this population.
D. Tympany on chest percussion suggests air in the abdominal cavity, not in the lungs, and is not typically associated with pneumonia. Pneumonia is more likely to present with dullness upon percussion due to consolidation in the lungs.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. A pleural friction rub occurs when the pleural surfaces rub against each other, usually due to inflammation, but it does not directly cause increased bubbling in the water seal chamber of a chest drainage unit.
B. An infection at the drainage site could lead to localized symptoms like redness or discharge, but it does not directly cause increased bubbling in the water seal chamber.
C. A bronchopleural leak is the most likely cause of increased bubbling in the water seal chamber. This occurs when there is an air leak between the lungs and pleural space, causing continuous air to enter the chest drainage system.
D. Complete lung re-expansion would not typically cause bubbling in the water seal chamber. Once the lung is fully re-expanded, bubbling should stop.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. A peak flow of more than 40% would indicate that the patient's asthma is not in an acute exacerbation. This patient's symptoms, such as confusion and inability to speak, suggest a severe asthma attack, and the peak flow would likely be much lower.
B. Bradycardia is not typically associated with severe asthma exacerbations. Tachycardia is more commonly observed as the body attempts to compensate for hypoxia.
C. Loud and prominent wheezing is usually seen in less severe cases of asthma. In this case, the inability to speak and confusion suggest severe respiratory distress, where wheezing might be diminished or absent due to poor air movement.
D. Deteriorating arterial blood gas (ABG) results, with low oxygen levels (hypoxemia) and elevated carbon dioxide levels (hypercapnia), would be expected in a patient with severe asthma exacerbation. These signs indicate respiratory failure and the need for urgent intervention.
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