A nurse is assessing a client who has asthma and signs of central cyanosis. Which of the following is a reliable indicator of cyanosis?

A. Place the client in left Sims' position.

Left Sims' position is a lateral position used primarily for rectal examinations or procedures. It involves lying on the left side with the lower arm positioned behind the body and the upper knee flexed. This position is not indicated for a client post-tracheostomy. It does not provide any specific benefit for tracheostomy care and may not be comfortable or appropriate for a client recovering from tracheostomy surgery.

B. Provide humidified air.

Providing humidified air is crucial for clients post-tracheostomy to maintain moisture in the airway and prevent drying of secretions. Tracheostomy bypasses the upper airway's natural humidification mechanism, which can lead to drying of the mucous membranes and increased risk of complications such as mucus plugging and infection. Humidified air helps keep the secretions moist, facilitates their removal, promotes airway clearance, and reduces the risk of complications.

C. Clean the tracheostomy stoma with povidone-iodine.

While povidone-iodine is an antiseptic solution commonly used for skin preparation before invasive procedures, it is not typically used to clean the tracheostomy stoma, especially in the immediate postoperative period. Cleaning the stoma should be performed using sterile technique and appropriate solutions as directed by the healthcare provider. Using povidone-iodine may not be suitable for cleaning the tracheostomy stoma and could potentially irritate the area or introduce contaminants.

D. Use clean technique when providing tracheostomy suctioning.

Tracheostomy suctioning should always be performed using sterile technique to minimize the risk of introducing pathogens into the lower airway and causing infection. Clean technique, which involves washing hands and using clean gloves, is not appropriate for tracheostomy care, particularly in the immediate postoperative period when the risk of infection is higher. Sterile technique involves the use of sterile gloves, sterile suction catheters, and maintaining a sterile field to ensure the safety and cleanliness of the procedure.

A. "I'll rinse my mouth after taking this medication."

Montelukast is taken orally and is not associated with the risk of oral thrush or other mouth-related side effects that would require rinsing the mouth after administration. This action is more commonly associated with inhaled corticosteroids, not leukotriene receptor antagonists.

B. "I'll use this medication when I get an asthma attack."

Montelukast is not a rescue medication for asthma attacks. It is a long-term controller medication used to manage and prevent asthma symptoms, not to treat acute attacks. Short-acting bronchodilators such as albuterol are used for quick relief during asthma attacks.

C. "I'll take this medication once a day in the evening."

Montelukast is a leukotriene receptor antagonist commonly used to manage asthma. It is typically taken orally once daily, usually in the evening, to provide 24-hour control of asthma symptoms and improve lung function. Therefore, the statement indicating an understanding of the teaching is option C.

D. "I'll decrease my sodium intake while I'm taking this medication."

Montelukast is not known to affect sodium levels in the body or require any specific dietary modifications, such as decreasing sodium intake. Therefore, this statement is unrelated to the use of montelukast for asthma management