While making rounds, the charge nurse notices that a young adult client with asthma who was admitted yesterday is sitting on the side of the bed and leaning over the bedside table. The client is currently receiving oxygen at 2 liters/minute via nasal cannula. The client is wheezing and is using pursed lip breathing. Which intervention should the nurse implement?

Choice A reason: This is incorrect because providing a diet low in phosphorus is not indicated for a client with cirrhosis of the liver. Phosphorus restriction is more relevant for clients with renal failure, not liver failure.

Choice B reason: This is correct because noting signs of swelling and edema is an essential intervention for a client with cirrhosis of the liver. Swelling and edema are signs of fluid retention and portal hypertension, which are common complications of liver disease.

Choice C reason: This is incorrect because increasing oral fluid intake to 1,500 mL daily is not advisable for a client with cirrhosis of the liver. Fluid restriction may be necessary to prevent fluid overload and ascites, which are common complications of liver disease.

Choice D reason: This is correct because monitoring abdominal girth is an important intervention for a client with cirrhosis of the liver. Abdominal girth measurement can indicate the presence and severity of ascites, which is a common complication of liver disease.

Choice E reason: This is correct because reporting serum albumin and globulin levels is a vital intervention for a client with cirrhosis of the liver. Serum albumin and globulin levels can reflect the liver's synthetic function and indicate the extent of liver damage.

Choice A: Securing chest tube to the stretcher for transport is a good practice, but it is not the most important action. The chest tube should be secured to prevent accidental dislodgement or kinking, but it does not affect the function of the chest tube or the drainage system.

Choice B: Administering PRN pain medication prior to transport is a compassionate action, but it is not the most important action. The client may experience pain due to the chest tube, the intubation, or the underlying condition, but pain relief is not a priority over maintaining adequate ventilation and drainage.

Choice C: Marking the amount of chest drainage on the container is a useful action, but it is not the most important action. The amount of chest drainage should be recorded and reported to monitor the client's status and detect any complications, such as hemorrhage or infection, but it does not affect the immediate function of the chest tube or the drainage system.

Choice D: Keeping the chest tube container below the site of insertion is the most important action for the nurse to take. The chest tube container should be kept below the level of the client's chest to maintain a gravity-dependent pressure gradient that allows air and fluid to drain from the pleural space. If the container is raised above the site of insertion, it can cause backflow of air or fluid into the pleural space, which can compromise ventilation and cause tension pneumothorax.