The health care provider writes an order for bacteriologic ...

[lak]

The health care provider writes an order for bacteriologic testing for a patient who has a positive tuberculosis skin test. Which action should the nurse take?
 
  a. Teach about the reason for the blood tests.
  b. Schedule an appointment for a chest x-ray.
  c. Teach about the need to get sputum specimens for 2 to 3 consecutive days.
  d. Instruct the patient to expectorate three specimens as soon as possible.

Question 2

A patient with right lower-lobe pneumonia has been treated with IV antibiotics for 3 days. Which assessment data obtained by the nurse indicates that the treatment has been effective?
 
  a. Bronchial breath sounds are heard at the right base.
  b. The patient coughs up small amounts of green mucus.
  c. The patient's white blood cell (WBC) count is 9000/L.
  d. Increased tactile fremitus is palpable over the right chest.

[Melissahxx]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Sputum specimens are obtained on 2 to 3 consecutive days for bacteriologic testing for M. tuberculosis. The patient should not provide all the specimens at once. Blood cultures are not used for tuberculosis testing. A chest x-ray is not bacteriologic testing. Although the findings on chest x-ray examination are important, it is not possible to make a diagnosis of TB solely based on chest x-ray findings because other diseases can mimic the appearance of TB.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
The normal WBC count indicates that the antibiotics have been effective. All the other data suggest that a change in treatment is needed.