A nurse is calculating the output of a client at the end of the shift.
The nurse notes the following: the client voided 400 mL at 1100 and 350 mL at 1430.
The closed chest drainage system was previously marked at 155 mL and is now at 175 mL. The NG tube has 575 mL in the drainage container, and 25 mL is emptied out of the Jackson-Pratt drainage tube.
How many mL should the nurse record in the medical record as the client's output?

Choice A rationale:
Fever is the most reliable early indicator of infection in a client with low WBC because it is a direct physiologic response to the presence of pathogens. When the body detects an infection, it releases pyrogens, which act on the hypothalamus to raise the body's temperature. This elevated temperature helps to create an environment that is less hospitable to bacteria and viruses, and it also stimulates the immune system to fight the infection.
In clients with low WBC, the immune system is already compromised, so the fever response may be even more pronounced. It's important to note that even a slight elevation in temperature (as low as 100.4°F or 38°C) can be significant in these clients.

Choice B rationale:
Chills can also be a sign of infection, but they are not as specific as fever. Chills can occur for other reasons, such as exposure to cold or anxiety.

Choice C rationale:
Tachycardia, or increased heart rate, can also be a sign of infection, but it is not as reliable as fever. Tachycardia can occur for other reasons, such as dehydration, pain, or anxiety.

Choice D rationale:
Dyspnea, or shortness of breath, is not a typical early sign of infection. It is more likely to occur in later stages of infection, when the infection has spread to the lungs.

Choice A rationale:
Coughing and deep breathing are essential for mobilizing and removing secretions from the airways, which is crucial for improving airway clearance in patients with pneumonia. These techniques help to loosen mucus and bring it up from the lungs, allowing it to be expelled through coughing.
Hydration maintenance is also critical because it helps to thin secretions, making them easier to cough up. Adequate hydration helps to keep mucus moist and less sticky, which promotes easier expectoration.
Choice B rationale:
Keeping the head of the bed elevated can help to improve oxygenation and reduce the work of breathing, but it does not directly address the issue of airway clearance. It may be a helpful adjunct intervention, but it's not the priority for this specific nursing diagnosis.
Choice C rationale:
Preparation for insertion of a tracheostomy tube is a more invasive intervention that may be necessary in severe cases of airway obstruction, but it is not the first-line intervention for ineffective airway clearance related to pneumonia. It would be considered if other measures fail to maintain adequate ventilation.

Choice D rationale:
Providing supplemental oxygen can help to improve oxygenation in patients with pneumonia, but it does not directly address the issue of airway clearance. It's important to support oxygenation, but it's not the primary intervention to clear secretions.