An hour after a left thoracotomy, a patient reports incisional pain at a level 7 (based on 0 to 10 scale) and has decreased left-sided breath sounds. The pleural drainage system has 100 mL of bloody drainage. Which action would the nurse take?

Turn and reposition the patient.

Assist the patient with incentive spirometry.

Clamp the chest tube in two places.

Administer prescribed morphine.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Choice A reason: Repositioning may ease discomfort but won’t address severe pain (7/10) or reduced breath sounds post-thoracotomy. It risks dislodging tubes and doesn’t improve atelectasis or bleeding, lacking urgency for this acute scenario.

Choice B reason: Incentive spirometry prevents atelectasis, but pain limits participation. Decreased breath sounds suggest collapse, yet without pain control, this intervention is ineffective, delaying relief and lung expansion needed post-surgery.

Choice C reason: Clamping a chest tube risks tension pneumothorax by trapping air or blood, worsening breathing. With 100 mL drainage, it’s functioning; clamping is contraindicated unless ordered, making it dangerous here.

Choice D reason: Morphine reduces severe pain (7/10), enabling deeper breathing to reverse atelectasis. It addresses the primary barrier to recovery post-thoracotomy, improving ventilation and comfort, aligning with acute pain management protocols.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason: A cardiac diet (low sodium, low fat) supports blood pressure control long-term by reducing vascular strain. However, it’s less immediate than addressing adherence, as dietary change alone won’t correct current medication misuse driving the elevation.

Choice B reason: Cardiac assessment identifies complications like hypertrophy, useful for monitoring. It’s reactive, not proactive, and doesn’t address the root issue of inconsistent adherence, which directly impacts blood pressure control and outcomes now.

Choice C reason: Medication education tackles adherence, the primary cause of uncontrolled hypertension here. Teaching proper use ensures therapeutic levels, reducing pressure via vasodilation or fluid control, directly improving outcomes with evidence-based efficacy.

A. Ask the healthcare provider about prescribing Streptomycin. B. Discuss injectable antibiotics with the health care provider. C. Teach about drug-resistant TB. D. Ask the patient whether medications were taken as directed.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A reason: Streptomycin treats TB, but persistent AFB after 2 months suggests resistance or non-adherence. Requesting it now skips assessing compliance, which is critical first, as adding drugs prematurely may worsen resistance.

Choice B reason: Injectable antibiotics (e.g., amikacin) address resistant TB, but without confirming adherence, this is premature. Non-compliance is common; discussing this assumes resistance without evidence, delaying root cause investigation.

Choice C reason: Teaching about drug-resistant TB is relevant if resistance is confirmed, not assumed. Positive AFB may reflect non-adherence, so education is secondary to verifying medication use, which drives next steps.

Choice D reason: Asking about adherence checks if the patient took drugs as directed, a common reason for persistent AFB. Non-compliance delays sputum conversion, making this the first action to guide further treatment decisions.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

An hour after a left thoracotomy, a patient reports incisional pain at a level 7 (based on 0 to 10 scale) and has decreased left-sided breath sounds. The pleural drainage system has 100 mL of bloody drainage. Which action would the nurse take?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Complete the following sentence: Given the patient’s elevated blood pressure and inconsistent medication adherence, the nurse should prioritize (intervention) to help improve blood pressure control and patient outcome

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

After 2 months of prescribed treatment with isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol, a patient continues to have positive sputum smears for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). Which action would the nurse take next?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Propranolol (Inderal) is newly prescribed for a patient diagnosed with hypertension. Which information in the patient’s history would prompt the nurse to consult with the health care provider before giving this drug?

The nurse is reviewing the patient’s history and recent lab results. Which of the following findings indicate an increased risk for cardiovascular complications? (Select all that apply)

Which finding is the most concerning and should prompt immediate action by the nurse?

Which potential complication would the nurse identify as a high risk for a patient admitted to the hospital with pancytopenia? (Select all that apply)

Based on Maria’s presenting symptoms and diagnostic test, the nurse suspects the patient will be diagnosed with ___________.

A patient with cystic fibrosis has blood glucose levels that are consistently between 180 to 250 mg/dL. Which action will the nurse expect to implement?

Which intervention for VTE care and prevention can the RN delegate to the nursing assistant?

A 65-year-old patient with a history of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) presents to the clinic with complaints of intermittent claudication in the right leg. Which of the following management strategies should the nurse prioritize to improve the patient’s condition?