A nurse is precepting a nursing student who brings the following client observations to the nurse's attention. Which of the following clients should the nurse assess first?
A client who is 3 hr post Foley catheter removal and has not voided
A client who is 3 days postoperative colectomy with a large, loose melena stool
A client who is 1 day postoperative total hip replacement with a pain level of 7 on a scale of 0 to 10
A client who is coughing up pink-tinged sputum following a bronchoscopy and lung biopsy 1 hr ago
The Correct Answer is D
A. A client who is 3 hr post Foley catheter removal and has not voided - While this may require assessment, it is not as urgent as assessing a client with potentially significant respiratory complications.
B. A client who is 3 days postoperative colectomy with a large, loose melena stool - While melena may indicate gastrointestinal bleeding, the client is not actively experiencing a respiratory issue.
C. A client who is 1 day postoperative total hip replacement with a pain level of 7 on a scale of 0 to 10 - Pain is important to address, but it is not as urgent as respiratory distress.
D. A client who is coughing up pink-tinged sputum following a bronchoscopy and lung biopsy 1 hr ago - Pink-tinged sputum may indicate bleeding from the respiratory tract, which could be a complication of the procedure and requires immediate assessment and intervention.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. The water seal chamber should contain at least 2 cm of water to maintain the seal and prevent air from entering the pleural space. Only 1 cm of water is inadequate and requires intervention.
B. Tidaling, or fluctuation of water with respirations, is an expected finding and indicates that the system is functioning properly.
C. A suction chamber pressure of -20 cm H₂O is the standard setting for chest tube drainage systems and does not require intervention.
D. A drainage collection chamber that is one-third full is within normal limits and simply indicates the need to continue monitoring output.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A.
A. Educating the client on covering the nose and mouth with tissues when coughing helps prevent the spread of tuberculosis by containing respiratory secretions.
B. A client with active tuberculosis should not return to work until they have completed a sufficient duration of treatment and are deemed non-infectious, not solely based on negative sputum cultures.
C. The client remains contagious until they have been on appropriate medication therapy for a sufficient duration and are deemed non-infectious by healthcare providers, usually after several weeks of treatment rather than just one week.
D. While wearing protective masks may be recommended for healthcare workers or individuals with compromised immune systems, it's not necessary for the client's family members unless they are in close contact with the client for an extended period.

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