Author Question: On entering the room, a nurse finds the patient sitting upright in bed with the upper torso resting ... (Read 73 times)

corkyiscool3328 · **on:** Jul 22, 2018

On entering the room, a nurse finds the patient sitting upright in bed with the upper torso resting on the over-bed table. The nurse assesses that this patient is experiencing acute hypoxemia.

Which of the following are symptoms of acute hypoxemia? (Select all that apply.) a. Cyanosis
b. Arrhythmias
c. Eupnea
d. Restlessness
e. Diaphoresis

Question 2

A student nurse has been assigned to a 67-year-old patient who is undergoing thoracic surgery to remove a tumor. As part of the preoperative teaching, the student nurse discusses the importance of coughing.

Which of the following statements is true regarding why postoperative coughing is important? (Select all that apply.) a. Coughing assists in removing retained mucus in the airways.
b. It won't hurt to cough with adequate pain control.
c. You can splint your incision when coughing to minimize pain.
d. Deep breathing and coughing will remove anesthesia gases from your lungs.
e. Deep breathing involves fast, shallow, breaths and then one big breath.
f. Coughing is not encouraged because of the potential or dehiscence at the surgical site.

Ptupou85 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

A, B, D, E
Symptoms of acute hypoxemia include changes in respiration (tachypnea, dyspnea); blood pressure (hypertension, hypotension); color (pallor, cyanosis); mental status (headache, anxiety, impaired judgment, confusion, euphoria, lethargy); motor function (loss of coordination, weakness, tremors, hyperactive reflexes, restlessness, stupor, coma around 30 mm Hg, death); arrhythmias (tachycardia, bradycardia), diaphoresis, blurred or tunnel vision, and nausea/vomiting. Eupnea is a normal breathing rate.

Answer to Question 2

A, C, D
A patient learns to use the diaphragm during deep breathing to take slow, deep, and relaxed breaths. Eventually a patient's lung volume improves. Deep breathing also helps to clear any anesthetic gases from the airways. To facilitate deep breathing a health care provider often orders an incentive spirometer for a patient. Coughing assists in removing retained mucus in the airways. A deep, productive cough is more beneficial than merely clearing the throat. Teach the patient to splint an abdominal or thoracic incision to minimize pain during coughing. Pain control is essential for effective deep breathing and coughing; educate the patient to ask for pain medications as needed. Deep breathing also helps to clear any anesthetic gases from the airways. The patient needs to anticipate postoperative discomfort and understand the importance of coughing, even when it is painful. Deep breathing is not fast and shallow, it is slow and deep. Coughing and deep breathing are encouraged even if dehiscence is a possibility, teaching them to splint wound.