A nurse is providing care to a group of patients in an adult medical-surgical unit. Which patient should the nurse identify as having the highest risk for aspiration?

A patient with a colostomy.

A patient with an ileostomy.

A patient receiving enteral feedings through an NG tube.

A patient who has a chest tube following a motor vehicle crash.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A rationale:

A colostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an opening in the colon (large intestine) to divert stool through the abdomen. While a colostomy can affect bowel function, it does not directly increase the risk of aspiration. This is because the colon is located further down the digestive tract and does not directly involve the airway.

Choice B rationale:

An ileostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an opening in the ileum (small intestine) to divert stool through the abdomen. Similar to a colostomy, an ileostomy does not directly increase the risk of aspiration because the ileum is also located further down the digestive tract and does not involve the airway.

Choice C rationale:

Enteral feedings, also known as tube feedings, involve delivering nutrients directly into the stomach or small intestine through a tube. Patients receiving enteral feedings through a nasogastric (NG) tube are at a significantly higher risk of aspiration for several reasons:

Impaired swallowing mechanisms: Many patients who require enteral feedings have impaired swallowing mechanisms, which can increase the risk of food or liquid entering the airway instead of the esophagus.

Tube placement: The NG tube itself can potentially irritate the esophagus or interfere with the normal closure of the upper esophageal sphincter, which can increase the risk of reflux and aspiration.

Feeding formula: Enteral feeding formulas are often thin and liquid-like, which can make them easier to aspirate than thicker liquids or solid foods.

Positioning: Patients receiving enteral feedings are often in a reclined position, which can make it easier for fluids to travel back up the esophagus and into the airway.

Choice D rationale:

A chest tube is a drainage tube inserted into the chest cavity to remove air or fluid. While a chest tube can affect respiratory function, it does not directly increase the risk of aspiration. This is because the chest tube drains fluid from the pleural space, which surrounds the lungs, and does not directly involve the airway or digestive tract.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

The correct answer is choice d. Auscultate lung fields.

Choice A rationale:

Cupping hands and tapping on the patient’s chest is part of the chest percussion technique, which helps to loosen mucus. However, it is not the first step. Before performing any physical intervention, the nurse must assess the patient’s current respiratory status.

Choice B rationale:

Positioning the patient so that the lung area to be drained is above the trachea is part of postural drainage. This step is crucial but should be done after assessing the patient’s lung fields to determine the areas that need drainage.

Choice C rationale:

Providing mouth care is important for overall hygiene and to prevent infection, especially in patients with respiratory conditions. However, it is not directly related to the immediate assessment and intervention for chest physiotherapy.

Choice D rationale:

Auscultating lung fields is the first step because it allows the nurse to assess the patient’s respiratory status and identify areas with abnormal breath sounds, which will guide the subsequent interventions like chest percussion, vibration, and postural drainage. This assessment ensures that the interventions are targeted and effective.

Correct Answer is ["50"]

Explanation

Here are the steps to calculate the gtt/min for the manual IV infusion:

Step 1: Convert the infusion time from hours to minutes. 8 hours x 60 minutes/hour = 480 minutes

Step 2: Divide the total volume of fluid (in mL) by the infusion time in minutes to get the mL/min rate. 400 mL ÷ 480 minutes = 0.8333 mL/min

Step 3: Multiply the mL/min rate by the drop factor (gtt/mL) to get the gtt/min rate. 0.8333 mL/min x 60 gtt/mL = 50 gtt/min

Therefore, the nurse should set the manual IV infusion to deliver 50 gtt/min.

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A nurse is providing care to a group of patients in an adult medical-surgical unit. Which patient should the nurse identify as having the highest risk for aspiration?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is developing a care plan for a patient with pneumonia who requires chest percussion, vibration, and postural drainage. What should the nurse plan to do first?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A nurse is preparing to administer 400 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride IV over 8 hours. The drop factor of the manual IV tubing is 60 gtt/mL. How many gtt/min should the nurse set the manual IV infusion to deliver? (Input your answer into the blank space, without any units. Numerical value only.)

Correct Answer is ["50"]

Explanation

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