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Explain the procedure to the client. While it is important for the procedure to be explained, this responsibility primarily belongs to the healthcare provider performing the thoracentesis. The nurse’s role is to reinforce the explanation, ensure understanding, and provide emotional support, not to obtain informed consent or perform the initial explanation.

Obtain arterial blood gases (ABGs) from the client. ABGs are not routinely required before a thoracentesis unless the provider specifically orders them to evaluate respiratory status. They are not part of standard pre-procedure preparation.

Administer benzocaine spray to the client. Benzocaine spray is a topical anesthetic used for throat procedures, not thoracentesis. Local anesthesia for a thoracentesis is administered by the healthcare provider using a sterile injectable anesthetic such as lidocaine.

Blood-tinged sputum. A small amount of blood-tinged sputum is expected after bronchoscopy due to minor mucosal irritation from the scope. This is a normal finding unless the bleeding is excessive or persistent, which would then warrant reporting.

Dry, nonproductive cough. Mild coughing may occur as the airways recover from irritation, and this is generally expected after the procedure. The cough should subside as the airway heals.

Sore throat. A sore or scratchy throat is common following bronchoscopy because of mechanical irritation from the scope passing through the oropharynx. It typically resolves within a day or two and can be managed with mild comfort measures such as lozenges or warm fluids.

Pulmonary function test. This is a noninvasive diagnostic test that measures lung volumes and airflow to assess respiratory function. It does not involve penetration of the chest wall, so the risk of pneumothorax is nonexistent.

Ventilation–perfusion scan. This imaging test evaluates airflow and blood flow in the lungs using radioactive tracers. It is noninvasive and does not place the patient at risk for pneumothorax.

Positron emission tomography (PET) scan. A PET scan uses a radioactive tracer to evaluate metabolic activity in lung tissue and detect malignancies. It is noninvasive and does not involve needle insertion into the pleural space, so pneumothorax is not a concern.

Complete the first of three samples to be collected. Collecting three sputum samples is typically required for tuberculosis (TB) testing, not for bacterial pneumonia. Pneumonia usually requires only a single sputum sample for culture and sensitivity analysis.

Differentiate between pneumonia and atelectasis. A sputum sample cannot distinguish between pneumonia and atelectasis because atelectasis is a collapse of lung tissue, not an infection. Diagnosis of atelectasis is based on imaging studies such as a chest x-ray, not sputum analysis.

Encourage expectoration of secretions. While coughing up sputum can help clear the airways, this is not the purpose of obtaining a sputum sample. The collection is specifically for laboratory analysis, not therapeutic secretion clearance.

To evaluate for pulmonary edema. Pulmonary edema involves fluid accumulation in the lung tissue and alveoli, which is not a complication of thoracentesis. This condition is typically associated with cardiac or renal causes, not pleural drainage.

To rule out emphysema. Emphysema is a chronic lung disease characterized by alveolar damage and hyperinflation, diagnosed through pulmonary function tests or CT scans, not post-thoracentesis imaging.

To assess for any cardiac distress. While cardiac monitoring may be appropriate for some patients, a chest x-ray does not evaluate for cardiac distress directly. The focus after thoracentesis is on respiratory complications, not cardiac assessment.