ATI LPN
Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017)
Chapter 22 : Management of Patients With Upper Respiratory Tract Disorders Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is caring for a patient with a severe nosebleed. The physician inserts a nasal sponge and tells the patient it may have to remain in place up to 6 days before it is removed. The nurse should identify that this patient is at increased risk for what?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A compressed nasal sponge may be used. Once the sponge becomes saturated with blood or is moistened with a small amount of saline, it will expand and produce tamponade to halt the bleeding. The packing may remain in place for 48 hours or up to 5 or 6 days if necessary to control bleeding. Antibiotics may be prescribed because of the risk of iatrogenic sinusitis and toxic shock syndrome.
Question 2 of 5
A nursing student is discussing a patient with viral pharyngitis with the preceptor at the walk-in clinic. What should the preceptor tell the student about nursing care for patients with viral pharyngitis?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Nursing care for patients with viral pharyngitis focuses on symptomatic management. Antibiotics are not prescribed for viral etiologies. Surgery is not indicated in the treatment of viral pharyngitis. Chronic hoarseness is not a common sequela of viral pharyngitis, so teaching ways to prevent it would be of no use in this instance.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is providing patient teaching to a patient diagnosed with acute rhinosinusitis. For what possible complication should the nurse teach the patient to seek immediate follow-up?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Patient teaching is an important aspect of nursing care for the patient with acute rhinosinusitis. The nurse instructs the patient about symptoms of complications that require immediate follow-up. Referral to a physician is indicated if periorbital edema and severe pain on palpation occur. Clear drainage and blood-tinged mucus do not require follow-up if the patient has acute rhinosinusitis. A persistent headache does not necessarily warrant immediate follow-up.
Question 4 of 5
A patient states that her family has had several colds during this winter and spring despite their commitment to handwashing. The high communicability of the common cold is attributable to what factor?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Colds are highly contagious because virus is shed for about 2 days before the symptoms appear and during the first part of the symptomatic phase. Antibiotic resistance is not relevant to viral illnesses and OTC medications do not have a rebound effect. Genetic factors do not exist.
Question 5 of 5
It is cold season and the school nurse has been asked to provide an educational event for the parent teacher organization of the local elementary school. What should the nurse include in teaching about the treatment of pharyngitis?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Depending on the severity of the pharyngitis and the degree of pain, warm saline gargles or throat irrigations are used. The benefits of this treatment depend on the degree of heat that is applied. The nurse teaches about these procedures and about the recommended temperature of the solution: high enough to be effective and as warm as the patient can tolerate, usually 105°F to 110°F (40.6°C to 43.3°
C). Irrigating the throat may reduce spasm in the pharyngeal muscles and relieve soreness of the throat. You would not tell the parent teacher organization that there is no real treatment of pharyngitis.