The nurse is instructing a patient about safety with oxygen in the home setting.
What would the nurse include in the instructions?

Choice A rationale:

Encourage the patient to use an incentive spirometer. Rationale: Encouraging the use of an incentive spirometer helps improve lung function and prevent respiratory complications. It promotes deep breathing and prevents atelectasis, especially in patients experiencing dyspnea.

Choice B rationale:

Auscultate lung sounds bilaterally. Rationale: Auscultating lung sounds helps the nurse assess for abnormal breath sounds, such as wheezing or crackles, which can indicate respiratory distress. This assessment is crucial in managing a patient with dyspnea.

Choice C rationale:

Ambulate the patient in the hall. Rationale: Ambulating the patient can worsen dyspnea in some cases, especially if the patient is experiencing severe respiratory distress. Therefore, this intervention may not be appropriate for a patient with dyspnea.

Choice D rationale:

Position the bed in high fowlers. Rationale: Positioning the patient in high fowlers (sitting upright with the head of the bed elevated) helps improve lung expansion and ease breathing. This position maximizes the patient's lung capacity and can provide relief from dyspnea.

Choice E rationale:

Assess the pulse oximetry. Rationale: Monitoring pulse oximetry levels is essential in assessing the patient's oxygen saturation. It helps the nurse determine if the patient is receiving adequate oxygenation, which is crucial in managing dyspnea. A normal oxygen saturation range is typically 95% to 100%.

Choice A rationale:

Placing pillows under the patient's hips and knees before turning is a supportive measure but is not the nursing priority during the logrolling procedure. While it helps maintain proper body alignment, it is not the primary focus of the procedure.

Choice B rationale:

Turning the patient only to the right side and never to the left is incorrect. Patients should be turned gently and carefully to either side, depending on the situation and the patient's condition. Restricting the movement to only one side can cause discomfort and potential injury to the patient.

Choice C rationale:

Raising the head of the bed to at least 30 degrees before turning is a good practice to prevent aspiration and facilitate breathing. However, it is not the priority step when logrolling a patient. Proper body alignment and support are essential to prevent injuries during the procedure.

Choice D rationale:

The correct answer. Keeping the head, neck, back, hips, and legs in alignment with each other is the nursing priority when logrolling a patient. This technique ensures that the patient's spine is supported and prevents twisting or bending, reducing the risk of injury. It is crucial for the healthcare provider to coordinate the movement carefully to maintain proper alignment throughout the procedure.