A nurse is planning postoperative care for a client who is scheduled for a thoracotomy with chest tube placement.
Which of the following pieces of equipment should the nurse plan to have at the client's bedside?

- A. Correct. The nurse should turn off the CPM machine during mealtime to allow the client to eat comfortably and prevent aspiration.

- B. Incorrect. The nurse should maintain the client's affected hip in a neutral position to prevent dislocation of the prosthesis and promote healing.

- C. Incorrect. The nurse should not instruct the client how to adjust the CPM settings for comfort, as this could interfere with the prescribed range of motion and speed of the device. The nurse should notify the provider if the client reports discomfort or pain.

- D. Incorrect. The nurse should not store the CPM machine under the client's bed when not in use, as this could pose a safety hazard and damage the device. The nurse should place the CPM machine on a stable surface away from the bed.

a. Improves muscle strength.

Explanation:

Neostigmine is a medication used in the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG). It belongs to a class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors. Neostigmine works by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, a neurotransmiter involved in muscle contraction. In MG, there is a decrease in the amount of acetylcholine available at the neuromuscular junction, leading to muscle weakness and fatigue.

By inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, neostigmine helps to increase the concentration of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. This, in turn, improves muscle strength and can alleviate the symptoms of weakness and fatigue associated with MG.

Option b, destroying the antibodies that cause MG, is not accurate. Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the presence of antibodies that interfere with neuromuscular transmission.

Neostigmine does not directly target or eliminate these antibodies.

Option c, enhancing immune system function, is not accurate either. Neostigmine primarily acts on the neuromuscular junction to improve muscle strength and does not have a direct effect on immune system function.

Option d, preventing excessive coughing, is not the primary action of neostigmine. While increased muscle strength may indirectly improve respiratory function and reduce coughing in individuals with myasthenia gravis, it is not the primary indication or action of neostigmine.

Therefore, the most accurate information to include in teaching about neostigmine for a client with myasthenia gravis is that it improves muscle strength.