A young adult is admitted to the emergency department after consuming an unknown quantity of drugs.
The patient is unresponsive, and an endotracheal tube (ETT) has been inserted.
What methods should the nurse use to confirm the correct placement of the ETT? Select all that apply.
Listen for bilateral breath sounds.
Verify a capillary refill time of less than 3 seconds.
Check that the ETT markings are between 22 and 26 cm at the teeth line.
Observe for symmetrical chest movement.
Arrange for a portable chest x-ray to confirm ETT location.
Correct Answer : A,C,D,E
Choice A rationale
Listening for bilateral breath sounds is a common method to confirm the correct placement of the ETT1. When the ETT is correctly placed, breath sounds should be heard equally on both sides of the chest.
Choice B rationale
Verifying a capillary refill time of less than 3 seconds is not directly related to confirming the placement of an ETT. Capillary refill time is often used to assess peripheral circulation and hydration status, not airway management.
Choice C rationale
Checking that the ETT markings are between 22 and 26 cm at the teeth line is another method to confirm correct ETT placement. These markings help ensure that the ETT is not too far into the trachea, which could cause one lung to be ventilated more than the other.
Choice D rationale
Observing for symmetrical chest movement is a visual confirmation of correct ETT placement. When the ETT is correctly placed, both sides of the chest should rise and fall equally with each breath.
Choice E rationale
Arranging for a portable chest x-ray is considered the gold standard for confirming ETT location. It provides a visual confirmation that the ETT is in the trachea and not in the esophagus.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Noting the presence of an auscultatory gap, which is a period of abnormal silence in Korotkoff sounds during blood pressure measurement, is important. However, in this case, the silence followed by a Korotkoff sound is a normal finding and does not indicate an auscultatory gap.
Choice B rationale
After inflating a blood pressure cuff and releasing the valve, the nurse hears silence followed by a Korotkoff sound. This is a normal finding and indicates that the nurse should continue with the blood pressure assessment.
Choice C rationale
Re-inflating the cuff to a higher number is not necessary in this case as the initial silence followed by a Korotkoff sound is a normal finding.
Choice D rationale
Repositioning the stethoscope over the brachial artery may not resolve the issue of hearing silence followed by a Korotkoff sound. It is important to assess the situation further before making adjustments.
Correct Answer is C,A,D,B
Explanation
Step 1: Observe breathing patterns. Respiratory depression is a critical symptom of myxedema coma that requires immediate attention.
Step 2: Measure body temperature. Hypothermia is a common symptom of myxedema coma and can provide important information about the severity of the patient’s condition.
Step 3: Assess blood pressure. Hypotension can occur in myxedema coma and can indicate the severity of the patient’s condition.
Step 4: Palpate for pedal edema. While this can be a symptom of hypothyroidism, it is not typically a primary concern in a patient showing signs of myxedema coma.
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