A patient is admitted to a respiratory unit with a diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia. Findings include a fever and a weak, congested-sounding cough with moist crackles throughout the lung fields. How should the nurse prioritize care?
Difficulty with breathing
Inability to clear the airway
Confusion from fever
Inadequate oxygen level
The Correct Answer is B
B. The inability to clear the airway is a critical issue. This patient has a weak, congested-sounding cough and moist crackles, indicating that secretions are present and not being effectively cleared. This can lead to airway obstruction, decreased oxygenation, and further respiratory complications. Clearing the airway is a top priority to ensure the patient can breathe properly and prevent further deterioration.
A. Difficulty breathing (dyspnea) is a serious concern as it can indicate respiratory distress or failure. However, it is often a symptom rather than a primary issue, and its underlying causes (such as an inability to clear the airway or inadequate oxygen levels) must be addressed first.
C. Confusion can result from high fever, infection, or hypoxia. While it is important to address the fever and its underlying cause, confusion itself is usually a secondary issue. Addressing the primary respiratory issues will often improve the patient's mental status as well.
D. Hypoxia can result from severe pneumonia, and resolving it involves ensuring the patient has a clear airway and adequate ventilation. Measuring and correcting oxygen levels (e.g., with supplemental oxygen) is crucial, but the underlying cause (such as airway obstruction) must also be managed.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
D. Obesity and weight loss are more directly linked to type 2 diabetes but they are not primary factors in the management of type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by the autoimmune destruction of beta cells, leading to an absolute deficiency of insulin. Weight loss can improve insulin sensitivity, which might be relevant for type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance, but type 1 diabetes patients will always require exogenous insulin regardless of weight changes.
A. Patients with type 1 diabetes are at risk for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a serious condition caused by high blood glucose levels and ketone buildup due to insufficient insulin. Monitoring blood glucose levels is crucial in preventing DKA.
B. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the insulin- producing beta cells in the pancreas. A viral infection can sometimes trigger this autoimmune response in genetically susceptible individuals.
C. There is a genetic component to type 1 diabetes, and having a family history of the disease can increase the risk, although environmental factors also play a role.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the pancreas produces little to no insulin, which is essential for regulating blood glucose levels.
B. Type 1 diabetes is not reversible. It is a lifelong condition that requires ongoing management with insulin therapy. While diet, exercise, and weight management are important for overall health and can help manage blood glucose levels, they cannot reverse type 1 diabetes.
C. This description is characteristic of type 2 diabetes, not type 1. In type 2 diabetes, the body’s cells become resistant to the effects of insulin, and the pancreas may not produce enough insulin. In type 1 diabetes, the problem is the lack of insulin production due to autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells.
D. Insulin is not released into the gastrointestinal tract. Insulin is a hormone that is released into the bloodstream by the pancreas. Its primary role is to help regulate blood glucose levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into the body's cells for energy.
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