A nurse is providing care for an older, previously healthy adult ...

[skymedlock]

A nurse is providing care for an older, previously healthy adult male who has been diagnosed today with pneumococcal pneumonia. Which of the following signs and symptoms is the nurse most likely to encounter?
 
  A)
  The man will be hypotensive and febrile and may manifest cognitive changes.
  B)
  The patient will have a cough producing clear sputum, and he will have faint breath sounds and fine crackles.
  C)
  The patient will have copious bloody sputum and diffuse chest pain and may lose his cough reflex.
  D)
  The patient will lack lung consolidation and will have little, if any, sputum production.

Question 2

Which of the following statements best conveys an aspect of the respiratory pressures that govern ventilation?
 
  A)
  Intrapleural pressure slightly exceeds that of the inflated lung.
  B)
  The chest wall exerts positive pressure on the lungs that contributes to expiration.
  C)
  The lungs are prevented from collapsing by constant positive intrapulmonary pressure.
  D)
  Negative intrapleural pressure holds the lungs against the chest wall.

[vseab]

Answer to Question 1

Ans:
B

Feedback:

The typical onset of pneumococcal pneumonia involves production of clear sputum, along with faint breath sounds and fine crackles. The patient is less likely to be hypotensive, have copious bloody sputum, or have chest pain. A lack of lung consolidation or sputum production is more closely associated with atypical pneumonias.

Answer to Question 2

Ans:
D

Feedback:

Negative intrapleural pressure holds the lungs in place against the chest wall and prevents their natural elastic properties from causing them to collapse. Intrapleural pressure is negative in relation to the inflated lung, and the chest wall exerts negative pressure on the lungs that keeps them from contracting and contributes to inspiration. Intrapulmonary pressure oscillates between positive and negative relative to atmospheric pressure with expiration and inspiration.

[skymedlock]

TYSM

[elyse44]

Excellent