A nurse is providing postoperative care for a patient who has a closed-wound drainage system. Which of the following actions should the nurse perform?
Irrigate the tubing with sterile normal saline solution at least once every 8 hours.
Replace the drainage plug after releasing hand pressure on the device.
Fully recollapse the reservoir after emptying it.
Empty the reservoir once per day.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale:
Irrigating the tubing with sterile normal saline solution is not a routine part of closed-wound drainage system care.
It's usually only done if there's evidence of a blockage or infection, and only under the direction of a healthcare provider. Unnecessary irrigation could introduce bacteria into the system and increase the risk of infection.
It could also disrupt the delicate balance of fluids in the wound and delay healing.
Choice B rationale:
Replacing the drainage plug after releasing hand pressure on the device is not correct. The drainage plug should actually be replaced before releasing hand pressure.
This is to prevent air from entering the system, which could disrupt the vacuum and impair drainage.
Choice D rationale:
Emptying the reservoir once per day is not frequent enough.
The reservoir should be emptied whenever it becomes full, which could be more often than once a day, depending on the amount of drainage.
Allowing the reservoir to become too full could put pressure on the wound and impede healing.
Choice C rationale:
Fully re-collapsing the reservoir after emptying it is essential to maintain the vacuum that promotes drainage. If the reservoir is not fully re-collapsed, the vacuum will be lost, and drainage will slow or stop.
This could lead to fluid accumulation in the wound, which could increase the risk of infection and delay healing.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Cellular hypoxia occurs when cells do not receive enough oxygen to meet their metabolic demands. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. A hemoglobin level of 10.8 g/dL is below the normal range for adults (14-18 g/dL), indicating that the client has anemia. Anemia reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, which can lead to cellular hypoxia.
Here is a detailed explanation of how anemia can lead to cellular hypoxia:
Decreased oxygen-carrying capacity: Anemia results in fewer red blood cells or reduced hemoglobin levels within those cells. As a consequence, the blood's ability to transport oxygen to the tissues is diminished.
Impaired oxygen delivery: Oxygen is transported to the tissues through the bloodstream, attached to hemoglobin within red blood cells. With fewer red blood cells or reduced hemoglobin, the delivery of oxygen to the tissues is compromised.
Decreased oxygen availability at the cellular level: As oxygen delivery is impaired, less oxygen is available to the cells for metabolic processes. This insufficient oxygen supply leads to cellular hypoxia.
Impaired cellular function: Cells require oxygen to produce energy through a process called aerobic respiration. Cellular hypoxia disrupts this process, leading to impaired cellular function.
Tissue and organ dysfunction: When a significant number of cells within a tissue or organ experience hypoxia, the function of that tissue or organ can be compromised. This can manifest in various symptoms and complications, depending on the affected organs.
Common signs and symptoms of cellular hypoxia:
Fatigue Weakness
Shortness of breath Pale skin
Dizziness Headache Chest pain
Tachycardia (rapid heart rate) Cognitive impairment
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Hypovolemic shock is a type of shock that occurs when there is a significant loss of blood or fluid volume, leading to decreased cardiac output and tissue perfusion. This can be caused by severe bleeding, dehydration, burns, or other conditions that result in fluid loss. While anaphylaxis can involve some fluid shifts, it is not primarily characterized by a loss of blood or fluid volume.
Key features of hypovolemic shock that distinguish it from anaphylactic shock include:
Prominent signs of dehydration: Dry skin and mucous membranes, decreased urine output, sunken eyes, and poor skin turgor.
Hemodynamic changes: Tachycardia, narrow pulse pressure, and cold extremities due to vasoconstriction to maintain blood pressure.
Laboratory findings: Elevated hematocrit and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, indicating hemoconcentration and decreased kidney perfusion.
Choice B rationale:
Obstructive shock is a type of shock that occurs when there is an obstruction to blood flow, preventing adequate circulation to the body's tissues. This can be caused by conditions such as pulmonary embolism, cardiac tamponade, or tension pneumothorax. Anaphylaxis does not involve a physical obstruction to blood flow.
Key features of obstructive shock that distinguish it from anaphylactic shock include:
Evidence of the underlying obstruction: Jugular venous distension (cardiac tamponade), muffled heart sounds (cardiac tamponade), or respiratory distress (pulmonary embolism or tension pneumothorax).
Distinctive hemodynamic changes: Equalization of diastolic pressures between the right and left ventricles (cardiac tamponade).
Specific imaging findings: Enlarged cardiac silhouette on chest X-ray (pericardial effusion), filling defects in the pulmonary arteries on CT angiography (pulmonary embolism), or hyperexpanded lung fields with a deviated trachea on chest X-ray (tension pneumothorax).
Choice C rationale:
Cardiogenic shock is a type of shock that occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. This can be caused by conditions such as heart attack, heart failure, or cardiomyopathy. Anaphylaxis does not primarily involve a failure of the heart's pumping function.
Key features of cardiogenic shock that distinguish it from anaphylactic shock include:
Evidence of heart failure: Pulmonary edema, elevated jugular venous pressure, and a third heart sound (S3 gallop).
Electrocardiogram (ECG) changes: ST-segment elevation or depression, Q waves, or other signs of myocardial ischemia or infarction.
Elevated cardiac enzymes: Troponin and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) levels, indicating heart muscle damage.
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