A patient with pulmonary congestion needs to cough to clear ...

[Frost2351]

A patient with pulmonary congestion needs to cough to clear secretions. The nurse instructs the patient to inhale and perform a series of coughs during exhalation. What type of cough did the nurse teach the patient?
 
  a. Quad
  b. Huff
  c. Cascade
  d. Splinting

Question 2

Which action should the nurse take when handling and disposing of patient information?
 
  a. Keep patient information to take home for disposal.
  b. Use programmed speed-dial keys when faxing.
  c. Throw hand-written notes about the patient in the trash.
  d. Place fax machines in a public place.

[ngr69]

Answer to Question 1

C
With the cascade cough a patient takes a slow, deep breath and holds it for 2 seconds while contracting expiratory muscles. He or she then opens the mouth and performs a series of coughs throughout exhalation, thereby coughing at progressively lowered lung volumes. This technique promotes airway clearance and a patent airway in patients with large volumes of sputum. A quad cough is used for patients who have a spinal cord injury and no use of their abdominal muscles. While the patient breathes out with a maximal expiratory effort, the patient or you push inward and upward on the abdominal muscles toward the diaphragm, causing the cough. A huff cough stimulates a natural cough reflex. While exhaling, a patient opens the glottis by saying the word huff. Splinting occurs when the patient supports the abdomen when coughing; it is not a type of cough.

Answer to Question 2

B
Use programmed speed-dial keys when faxing to eliminate the chance of a dialing error and misdirected information. Place fax machines in a secure area, not a public area. Patient information must be shredded, and taking patient information home or throwing in the trash is breaking confidentiality.