When entering a client's room, the nurse observes that the client is using pursed-lip breathing. It is most important for the nurse to monitor the client for which problem?

Choice A Reason:
Requesting diagnostic laboratory testing for the client is appropriate action. Enlargement of the thyroid gland can be indicative of various thyroid disorders, including hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, or thyroid nodules. Diagnostic laboratory testing, such as thyroid function tests (TFTs), thyroid antibody testing, and possibly thyroid ultrasound, can help identify the underlying cause of the thyroid enlargement. These tests can include assessments of thyroid hormone levels (T3, T4, and TSH), antibodies, and imaging studies. Requesting diagnostic laboratory testing is essential to accurately diagnose the condition and guide appropriate management and treatment.
Choice B Reason:
Obtaining a dietary consultation for nutrition teaching is inappropriate action. While nutrition can play a role in overall thyroid health, obtaining a dietary consultation for nutrition teaching is not the most immediate action to take in response to finding an enlarged thyroid gland during palpation. Dietary consultation may be considered as part of comprehensive care for thyroid disorders, but it does not address the need for further evaluation and diagnosis of the thyroid enlargement.
Choice C Reason:
Instructing the client in the need to use iodized salt is inappropriate action. While iodine deficiency can contribute to thyroid disorders, instructing the client to use iodized salt is not the most immediate action to take in response to finding an enlarged thyroid gland during palpation. Using iodized salt may help prevent iodine deficiency, but it does not address the need for further evaluation and diagnosis of the thyroid enlargement.
Choice D Reason:
Scheduling a follow-up appointment in one month is inappropriate action. While scheduling a follow-up appointment may be necessary for ongoing monitoring and management of thyroid disorders, it is not the most immediate action to take in response to finding an enlarged thyroid gland during palpation. Further evaluation and diagnostic testing should be prioritized to determine the underlying cause of the thyroid enlargement and initiate appropriate treatment.

Choice A Reason:
Syncope is incorrect. Syncope, or fainting, can occur in individuals experiencing severe respiratory distress or hypoxia. Pursed-lip breathing is often used as a technique to manage dyspnea and improve oxygenation, which can help prevent syncope by ensuring adequate ventilation and oxygen delivery to the body's tissues. However, syncope is not the primary concern associated with the observation of pursed-lip breathing; instead, it is a potential consequence of inadequate oxygenation.
Choice B Reason:
Acute pain is not directly related to the observation of pursed-lip breathing. Pursed-lip breathing is a technique used to manage dyspnea and improve ventilation efficiency in individuals with respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma exacerbation. While pain can exacerbate respiratory distress in some cases, the primary focus when observing pursed-lip breathing is to assess and address respiratory status rather than pain management.
Choice C Reason:
Tetany is incorrect. Tetany, characterized by muscle spasms due to low calcium levels, is not directly associated with the observation of pursed-lip breathing. Pursed-lip breathing is a respiratory technique used to manage dyspnea and improve ventilation in individuals with respiratory conditions such as COPD or asthma. While respiratory distress can lead to various physiological responses, tetany is not a typical manifestation observed in individuals using pursed-lip breathing.
Choice D Reason:
Dyspnea is correct. Pursed-lip breathing is a technique often used by individuals with respiratory conditions to relieve shortness of breath and improve breathing efficiency. The primary reason for using pursed-lip breathing is to help alleviate dyspnea, or difficulty breathing, by promoting more effective exhalation and preventing airway collapse during expiration. Monitoring for dyspnea is crucial in this situation to assess the client's respiratory status, including the severity of breathing difficulty and any associated symptoms, and to guide further interventions to address the underlying cause of dyspnea. While syncope (fainting), acute pain, and tetany (muscle spasms due to low calcium levels) are potential concerns in certain clinical contexts, they are not directly associated with the observation of pursed-lip breathing. Therefore, dyspnea is the most relevant problem for the nurse to monitor in this scenario.