A patient with asthma is admitted with severe dyspnea and is unable to speak. The nurse finds that the patient looks drowsy and confused. Which other finding would the nurse expect?

Peak flow of more than 40%

Bradycardia

Loud and prominent wheezing

Arterial blood gas is deteriorating

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

A. A peak flow of more than 40% would indicate that the patient's asthma is not in an acute exacerbation. This patient's symptoms, such as confusion and inability to speak, suggest a severe asthma attack, and the peak flow would likely be much lower.
B. Bradycardia is not typically associated with severe asthma exacerbations. Tachycardia is more commonly observed as the body attempts to compensate for hypoxia.
C. Loud and prominent wheezing is usually seen in less severe cases of asthma. In this case, the inability to speak and confusion suggest severe respiratory distress, where wheezing might be diminished or absent due to poor air movement.
D. Deteriorating arterial blood gas (ABG) results, with low oxygen levels (hypoxemia) and elevated carbon dioxide levels (hypercapnia), would be expected in a patient with severe asthma exacerbation. These signs indicate respiratory failure and the need for urgent intervention.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. The head of the bed should be elevated to at least 30-45 degrees to help prevent aspiration and reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Flat positioning increases the risk of aspiration and subsequent pneumonia.
B. Humidification is important for preventing drying of the respiratory passages but does not directly reduce the risk of VAP.
C. Turning the client every 2 hours (not just 4) is a key practice to prevent VAP by improving lung expansion, promoting drainage, and reducing the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia.
D. Oral care, including brushing the teeth, should be done more frequently than every 12 hours. The current guidelines recommend brushing the client's teeth every 4-6 hours and using suctioning as needed to prevent oral bacterial buildup that can lead to VAP.

A. Sitting upright with elbows on an over-bed table and feet supported B. Sitting in bed with knees slightly flex and feet flexed C. Lying flat in the fetal position on the unaffected side D. Lying flat on the unaffected side with knees slightly flexed

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. The optimal position for a thoracentesis is sitting upright with the patient leaning forward slightly, with elbows resting on an over-bed table to help expose the pleural space for access. This position allows gravity to pull the lungs downward and facilitates easier access to the pleural cavity.
B. Sitting in bed with knees slightly flexed and feet flexed is not the best position for thoracentesis. This position might limit the ability to properly expose the thoracic cavity for the procedure.
C. Lying flat in the fetal position on the unaffected side would not allow for effective drainage or access to the pleural space and is not ideal for thoracentesis.
D. Lying flat on the unaffected side with knees slightly flexed is not ideal because it does not provide optimal positioning for the procedure. The upright position is preferred for thoracentesis to facilitate easy access to the pleural space.

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A patient with asthma is admitted with severe dyspnea and is unable to speak. The nurse finds that the patient looks drowsy and confused. Which other finding would the nurse expect?

Nursing Test Bank

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