A nurse is caring for a school-age child suffering from respiratory failure due to pneumonia.
Which position should the nurse recommend for maximum lung expansion?
Prone
Side-lying
Supine
Upright
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A rationale:
Prone The prone position, in which a patient lies facedown, is beneficial for patients with pneumonia as it helps shift the fluid away from the back of the lungs, allowing more air to enter. It also improves ventilation in the lungs and reduces the risk of lung collapse. However, this position is not the most effective for maximum lung expansion in pneumonia patients.
Choice B rationale:
Side-lying Lateral positioning, in which the patient lies on one side, is recommended for patients suffering from pneumonia in just one lung. In this position, the pneumatic lung is exposed to a higher blood flow, resulting in greater oxygenation levels and improved lung expansion. This position can also help prevent lung injury by helping regulate pressure and improve aeration.
But again, this is not the most effective position for maximum lung expansion in pneumonia patients.
Choice C rationale:
Supine The supine position, where the patient lies flat on their back, is not the best position for a pneumonia patient. This position can cause the secretions to pool in the lungs, making it harder for the patient to breathe and potentially worsening their condition. Choice D rationale:
Upright Elevating the head of the bed is an effective way to improve lung expansion and oxygenation levels in pneumonia patients. This position also helps eliminate airway obstruction, reduces pressure on the lungs, and promotes drainage of fluids from the lungs. Therefore, the upright position is the most recommended for maximum lung expansion in pneumonia patients.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Administering insulin to a client who is hyperventilating due to respiratory alkalosis would not be the appropriate action. Insulin is used to lower blood glucose levels in clients with hyperglycemia, such as those with diabetes mellitus. It does not directly address the issues of hyperventilation or respiratory alkalosis.
Choice B rationale:
Having the client breathe into a paper bag is the correct action in this case. When a person hyperventilates, they exhale more carbon dioxide (CO2) than they produce. This can lead to a state of respiratory alkalosis, where the blood becomes too alkaline due to the low levels of CO2. By breathing into a paper bag, the client re-inhales some of the exhaled CO2, helping to restore the balance of gases in the blood and alleviate the symptoms of respiratory alkalosis.
Choice C rationale:
Administering sodium bicarbonate to a client who is hyperventilating and has respiratory alkalosis would not be the appropriate action. Sodium bicarbonate is an alkalinizing agent used to treat conditions where there is too much acid in the body, such as metabolic acidosis. In this case, the client’s body is too alkaline due to the respiratory alkalosis, so administering an alkalinizing agent would exacerbate the condition.
Choice D rationale:
Having the client place their head between their knees would not be the appropriate action for a client who is hyperventilating due to respiratory alkalosis. This position is often used to help alleviate symptoms of dizziness or fainting, but it does not address the underlying issue of the imbalance of gases in the blood due to hyperventilation.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Muscle twitching is a symptom of oxygen toxicity. Oxygen toxicity is a condition resulting from the harmful effects of breathing molecular oxygen (O2) at increased partial pressures. Severe cases can result in cell damage and death, with effects most often seen in the central nervous system, lungs, and eyes. Central nervous system symptoms can include muscle twitching.
Choice B rationale:
Redness of the face is not typically associated with oxygen toxicity. Oxygen toxicity primarily affects the central nervous system, lungs, and eyes. It does not typically cause redness of the face.
Choice C rationale:
Swelling around the eyes is not a common symptom of oxygen toxicity. The primary effects of oxygen toxicity are seen in the central nervous system, lungs, and eyes. However, this does not typically manifest as swelling around the eyes.
Choice D rationale:
A metallic taste in the mouth is not a known symptom of oxygen toxicity. Oxygen toxicity is a condition that results from the harmful effects of breathing molecular oxygen (O2) at increased partial pressures. It primarily affects the central nervous system, lungs, and eyes, but a metallic taste in the mouth is not a recognized symptom.
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