The nurse is providing care for a patient admitted for a lower respiratory infection. On admission, the patient's vital signs were blood pressure (BP) 140/80 mm Hg. apical pulse (AP) 112 beats/minute, respirations (R) 32 breaths/minute, and pain level of 8 on a scale of 0 to 10. After assisting the patient to bed and applying the prescribed oxygen, which finding helps the nurse evaluate the effectiveness of nursing care?

B. An elevated white blood cell (WBC) count, specifically an elevation in the neutrophil count (neutrophilia), is commonly seen in pneumonia. It indicates an inflammatory response to the infection and is a typical finding in bacterial pneumonia.
A. A decreased serum creatinine level is not typically associated with pneumonia and may not be directly related to the condition. In fact, it may suggest impaired kidney function or dehydration, but it is not a concerning lab abnormality specifically related to pneumonia.
C. Protein in the urine (proteinuria) may be present in various conditions, including kidney disease, urinary tract infections, and certain systemic illnesses. While it can sometimes be seen in severe cases of pneumonia, it is not a specific or common finding associated with the condition.
D. Decreased serum potassium levels are not typically associated with pneumonia itself. However, certain factors related to pneumonia treatment or complications, such as the use of diuretics or vomiting, could lead to hypokalemia. While hypokalemia can have serious consequences, it is not directly related to the severity of pneumonia.

B. Morning is considered the ideal time for collecting a sputum specimen. Overnight, mucus accumulates in the respiratory tract because the patient is less active and not clearing their throat or coughing as much. This means that the mucus is more concentrated and has had time to build up, providing a more substantial and representative sample of what is in the lungs.
A. Collecting a sputum specimen at bedtime is generally not ideal. By the end of the day, the patient’s respiratory tract might have cleared some of the accumulated mucus naturally through coughing or other activities.
C. Collecting a sputum specimen after meals is not recommended. Eating can introduce food particles and bacteria from the mouth into the sputum, contaminating the sample.
D. Starting antibiotics before collecting a sputum specimen can alter the bacterial flora present in the respiratory tract. This can lead to a false-negative result or an inaccurate representation of the pathogens causing the infection.