what is the first priority for a patient in respiratory distress
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Nursing Elites

ATI LPN

ATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2024

1. What is the first priority for a patient in respiratory distress?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to administer oxygen. In a patient experiencing respiratory distress, the primary concern is ensuring an adequate oxygen supply to the body. By administering oxygen, you can help improve oxygenation, which is crucial for the patient's overall well-being. Assessing airway patency is important but administering oxygen takes precedence as it directly addresses the oxygenation concern. Monitoring oxygen saturation is also essential, but the immediate action should be to provide oxygen. Calling for assistance can be important but is not the first priority when dealing with a patient in respiratory distress.

2. A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client who has a new prescription for haloperidol. Which of the following adverse effects should the nurse instruct the client to report to the provider?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Shuffling gait. A shuffling gait can indicate extrapyramidal symptoms, a potentially serious side effect of haloperidol. Extrapyramidal symptoms include movement disorders such as dystonia, akathisia, parkinsonism, and tardive dyskinesia. Reporting this symptom promptly is crucial to prevent further complications. Choices A, B, and C are common side effects of haloperidol but are not as urgent or indicative of serious complications compared to a shuffling gait.

3. A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube post-surgery. What is the most important assessment?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Check for air leaks and ensure proper chest tube function.' This is the most important assessment for a client with a chest tube post-surgery because it ensures that the chest tube is functioning properly. Checking for air leaks helps prevent complications such as pneumothorax or hemothorax. Choice A is incorrect because clamping the chest tube periodically can lead to serious complications and should not be done unless specifically ordered by a healthcare provider. Choice C is important for promoting lung expansion but is not the most critical assessment related to the chest tube. Choice D is also important for respiratory function but is not the priority when assessing a chest tube post-surgery.

4. When caring for a client with a wound infection, what should the nurse prioritize?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The nurse should prioritize performing a wound culture before administering antibiotics to ensure appropriate treatment. This step helps identify the specific infecting organism and its susceptibility to different antibiotics, guiding effective antibiotic therapy. Changing the dressing daily (Choice A) is important but comes after assessing the infection and initiating appropriate treatment. Cleansing the wound with an antiseptic solution (Choice B) and applying a wet-to-dry dressing (Choice C) are interventions that may be necessary but are secondary to determining the most suitable antibiotic therapy based on the wound culture results.

5. What are the nursing interventions for a patient with COPD?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Administer oxygen and provide breathing exercises. These interventions are essential in managing COPD as they help improve lung function and oxygenation. Choice B is incorrect as suctioning airway secretions and encouraging coughing are not typically indicated for COPD patients. Choice C is incorrect as while administering bronchodilators is common in COPD treatment, monitoring oxygen saturation alone is not a comprehensive intervention. Choice D is incorrect as restricting fluids is not a standard intervention for COPD, and encouraging mobility, although beneficial, is not as directly related to managing COPD symptoms as administering oxygen and providing breathing exercises.

Similar Questions

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