After suctioning a client who has an endotracheal tube, which assessment finding indicates to the nurse that the intervention was effective?

Clear breath sounds on auscultation.

Increased respiratory rate.

Decreased oxygen saturation.

Presence of wheezing.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A reason: Clear breath sounds indicate effective suctioning, as it removes secretions obstructing the airway, improving ventilation. This aligns with the goal of endotracheal suctioning to maintain airway patency, ensuring adequate oxygenation and reducing infection risk, per critical care and respiratory management protocols in nursing practice.

Choice B reason: Increased respiratory rate suggests respiratory distress, indicating ineffective suctioning. Clear breath sounds confirm secretion removal, ensuring airway patency. A rising rate may reflect persistent obstruction or hypoxia, requiring further intervention, per respiratory assessment and critical care standards for endotracheal tube management in nursing.

Choice C reason: Decreased oxygen saturation indicates ineffective suctioning, as secretions likely remain, impairing oxygenation. Clear breath sounds confirm airway clearance, improving gas exchange. Low saturation requires immediate reassessment, per oxygenation monitoring and critical care protocols for clients with endotracheal tubes in nursing practice.

Choice D reason: Presence of wheezing suggests airway narrowing or persistent secretions, indicating ineffective suctioning. Clear breath sounds demonstrate successful secretion removal, ensuring unobstructed airflow. Wheezing requires further intervention, per respiratory assessment and airway management standards in critical care nursing for intubated clients.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Topical corticosteroids reduce eczema’s inflammation by inhibiting cytokines, alleviating antecubital vesicles. Heat lamps dry skin, worsening irritation and cracking. Encouraging steroids addresses the inflammatory pathophysiology, promoting healing, making this the most effective response for managing eczema and correcting harmful self-treatment.

Choice B reason: Chemical debridement is for necrotic tissue, not eczema’s inflammatory vesicles. Heat lamps exacerbate dryness, but debridement does not address immune-mediated inflammation. Corticosteroids target the cytokine-driven process, making debridement inappropriate for eczema’s pathophysiology, which requires anti-inflammatory treatment.

Choice C reason: Restricting heat to 15–20 minutes does not mitigate harm, as heat dries eczema lesions, disrupting the skin barrier and increasing infection risk. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation, addressing vesicles. Heat worsens epidermal damage, making this response ineffective compared to targeting the inflammatory cause.

Choice D reason: A sling for arm elevation is irrelevant for localized eczema, an inflammatory dermatitis, not edema requiring elevation. Heat lamps aggravate dryness, and corticosteroids treat inflammation, addressing immune-mediated pathology more effectively than positional changes, which do not impact eczema’s skin symptoms.

A. Change the tracheostomy ties every 48 hours. B. Suction the tracheostomy every 2 hours routinely. C. Assess airway patency every shift. D. Clean the inner cannula with hydrogen peroxide daily.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason: Changing tracheostomy ties every 48 hours maintains hygiene but is less critical than airway patency. Ties secure the tube, but obstruction from mucus or dislodgement risks respiratory failure. Regular patency checks ensure airflow, addressing the primary physiological need for oxygenation in tracheostomy care.

Choice B reason: Routine suctioning every 2 hours is unnecessary unless secretions obstruct the airway. Over-suctioning risks mucosal trauma or hypoxia. Assessing patency ensures the airway remains clear, guiding suctioning as needed, prioritizing respiratory function in tracheostomy clients over arbitrary suction schedules.

Choice C reason: Assessing airway patency every shift is critical, as tracheostomy tubes risk obstruction from mucus or dislodgement, causing respiratory distress. Regular checks confirm airflow, preventing hypoxia, addressing the physiological priority of oxygenation. This ensures timely intervention, maintaining airway integrity in clients with artificial airways.

Choice D reason: Cleaning the inner cannula daily prevents infection but is secondary to airway patency. Obstruction from secretions or tube displacement causes immediate respiratory failure. Patency assessment ensures airflow, guiding cleaning as needed, making it more urgent than routine cannula maintenance in tracheostomy care.

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After suctioning a client who has an endotracheal tube, which assessment finding indicates to the nurse that the intervention was effective?

Nursing Test Bank

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Correct Answer is A

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