A nurse on a telemetry unit is assessing a client who is receiving continuous cardiac monitoring. The client's heart rate is 69/min and the PR interval is 0.24 seconds. The nurse should interpret this finding as which of the following cardiac rhythms?

Provide humidification of the room air. This is because humidification can help moisten the oral mucosa and reduce the discomfort of xerostomia. Xerostomia is a condition of dry mouth caused by reduced or absent saliva flow, which can occur after radiation therapy to the head and neck area.

Choice A is wrong because rinsing the mouth with an alcohol-based mouth wash can irritate the oral tissues and worsen xerostomia. Alcohol can also dehydrate the mouth and reduce saliva production.

Choice B is wrong because esophageal speech is a method of voice restoration after laryngectomy, not a treatment for xerostomia.

Esophageal speech involves swallowing air into the esophagus and releasing it to create sound.

It has nothing to do with saliva flow or dry mouth.

Choice C is wrong because saltine crackers are dry and hard to swallow without adequate saliva.

They can also scratch the oral mucosa and cause pain or bleeding. Offering the client saltine crackers between meals can aggravate xerostomia and increase the risk of choking.

Normal ranges for saliva flow vary depending on the method of measurement, but generally, a stimulated saliva flow rate of less than 0.7 mL/min or an unstimulated saliva flow rate of less than 0.1 mL/min is considered indicative of xerostomia.

The correct answer is choice C, frequent swallowing.

This indicates that the child may be experiencing hemorrhage because they are trying to clear the blood from their throat. Frequent swallowing is one of the initial signs of bleeding immediately after tonsillectomy.

Choice A is wrong because elevated pain level is not a specific sign of hemorrhage.

Pain is expected after a tonsillectomy and can be managed with medication and fluids.

Choice B is wrong because increased drowsiness is not a specific sign of hemorrhage.

Drowsiness can be caused by anesthesia, medication, or dehydration.

Choice D is wrong because diminished breath sounds are not a specific sign of hemorrhage.

Diminished breath sounds can be caused by respiratory infection, asthma, or bronchospasm.

Normal ranges for hemoglobin and hematocrit are 11.5 to 15.5 g/dL and 34 to 45% for children, respectively.

Normal ranges for platelet count are 150,000 to 450,000/mm3 for both children and adults.

Normal ranges for plasma clotting variables depend on the specific test and method used.