A patient hospitalized with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is being discharged home on O₂ therapy. Which instruction should the nurse include in the discharge teaching?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: O₂ therapy improves survival and quality of life in COPD; other options are incorrect or outdated.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: All the values are abnormal, but the low PaO2 indicates that the patient is at the point on the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve where a small change in the PaO2 will cause a large drop in the O2 saturation and a decrease in tissue oxygenation. The nurse should intervene immediately to improve the patient's oxygenation.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The crackles indicate that the patient may be developing pneumonia, a common complication of influenza, which would require aggressive treatment. Myalgia, headache, mild temperature elevation, and sore throat with cough are typical manifestations of influenza and are treated with supportive care measures.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Because smoking is the major cause of lung cancer, the most important role for the nurse is teaching patients about the benefits of and means of smoking cessation. CT scanning, sputum cytology, and erlotinib are related to screening or treatment, not prevention.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: A major reason for atelectasis and poor airway clearance in patients after chest surgery is incisional pain (which increases with deep breathing and coughing). The first action by the nurse should be to medicate the patient to minimize incisional pain.