A nurse is planning care for a client who has an endotracheal tube and is receiving mechanical ventilation. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include to reduce the client's risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia?

The correct answer is choice c. List of community resources.

Choice A rationale:

Emergency contact information is typically found in the patient’s admission records or demographic section, not in the discharge summary.

Choice B rationale:

Intake and output summary is part of the daily nursing notes or fluid balance chart, not usually included in the discharge summary.

Choice C rationale:

The discharge summary often includes a list of community resources to support the patient after discharge, such as contact information for follow-up care, support groups, or home health services.

Choice D rationale:

Basic demographic data is recorded in the patient’s initial admission records and is not typically repeated in the discharge summary.

Choice A rationale:

Performing oral care once each day is not sufficient to reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Ventilated patients are at an increased risk of developing VAP due to the presence of an endotracheal tube that bypasses the body's natural defenses. Bacteria can accumulate in the mouth and respiratory tract, leading to pneumonia. Therefore, performing oral care only once a day is inadequate for maintaining oral hygiene and preventing VAP.

Choice B rationale:

Brushing the client's teeth with a firm-bristle toothbrush can cause trauma to the oral tissues, potentially leading to bleeding and irritation. In critically ill patients with an endotracheal tube, using a firm-bristle toothbrush can exacerbate the risk of infection and VAP. It is essential to use gentle and non-traumatic methods for oral care to maintain the integrity of the oral mucosa.

Choice C rationale:

Swabbing the client's mouth with chlorhexidine solution is the correct choice. Chlorhexidine is an antiseptic solution that effectively reduces the growth of bacteria in the oral cavity. Regular use of chlorhexidine mouthwash has been shown to decrease the risk of VAP in mechanically ventilated patients. By reducing the bacterial load in the mouth, the risk of aspiration and subsequent pneumonia is lowered, making it a crucial intervention for preventing VAP.

Choice D rationale:

Raising the head of the bed by 15° for oral care is an important measure to prevent aspiration during oral care. However, it alone is not sufficient to reduce the risk of VAP. While proper head positioning helps prevent the entry of oral secretions into the lower respiratory tract, it must be combined with effective oral hygiene practices, such as using chlorhexidine solution, to comprehensively reduce the risk of VAP.