The home care nurse visits a client with compromised lung function. The client has greenish yellow sputum with a musty odor. Which assessment is the priority for the
Auscultate bilateral breath sounds.
Obtain blood culture for tuberculosis.
Request pulmonary function studies.
Document the findings.
The Correct Answer is A
The client's greenish-yellow sputum with a musty odor may indicate an infection, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, which can affect the client's lung function. By auscultating bilateral breath sounds, the nurse can assess for the presence of abnormal lung sounds, such as crackles or wheezing, which may indicate further respiratory compromise.
While obtaining a blood culture for tuberculosis (option b) may be appropriate in certain circumstances, the client's sputum color and odor do not necessarily indicate tuberculosis as the cause of their respiratory symptoms.
Requesting pulmonary function studies (option c) may also be beneficial in assessing the client's lung function, but this is not the priority assessment in this situation.
Finally, while documenting the findings (option d) is an important aspect of nursing care, it is not the priority action when the client is presenting with signs of compromised lung function.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive method of monitoring the oxygen saturation level in the blood. A normal range for oxygen saturation is between 95% and 100%. An oxygen saturation level of 89% indicates hypoxemia, which is a serious condition that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and even death if left untreated.
Therefore, the priority nursing action is to perform a respiratory assessment to determine the cause of the hypoxemia. This should include assessing the client's airway patency, breathing patern, lung sounds, and oxygen therapy if the client is already receiving it. The nurse should also observe for any signs of respiratory distress such as cyanosis, accessory muscle use, or difficulty breathing.
While it is important to document hypoxemia and report it to the healthcare provider, the priority at this time is to assess and intervene promptly to prevent further deterioration of the client's condition. Checking the placement of the pulse oximeter may be necessary if the reading is unreliable, but it is not the priority in this scenario.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Crackles, also known as rales, are discontinuous sounds that are typically heard during inspiration in patients with heart failure. These sounds are produced by the sudden opening of small airways and alveoli that are filled with fluid or collapsed due to pulmonary congestion. The sound can be described as similar to the sound of rubbing hair between fingers or the sound of Velcro being pulled apart.
Rhonchi are continuous, low-pitched sounds that are typically heard during expiration and are caused by the movement of air through narrowed airways, such as in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Stridor is a high-pitched, continuous sound that is typically heard during inspiration and indicates upper airway obstruction, which can be life-threatening. Neither rhonchi nor stridor are typically heard in patients with heart failure.
Therefore, based on the patient's history and symptoms, the most likely type of breathing sound to be heard on auscultation is crackles/rales.
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