The nurse is caring for a client with acute bronchitis. Which instruction is most important for preventing complications?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. Adequate hydration helps thin mucus, making it easier to expel and reducing the risk of complications like pneumonia. Humidifiers can actually worsen bronchitis by promoting mold growth. Light exercise can help with lung function, but hydration is more crucial. Cough suppressants may hinder mucus clearance, leading to further complications.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Administering prescribed analgesics. The priority intervention is to manage the client's pain to promote comfort and encourage deep breathing and coughing. This helps prevent complications such as atelectasis. Positioning for comfort is important but not the priority when the client is experiencing pleuritic chest pain. Assessing for pleural effusion is relevant but not the immediate priority over addressing the client's pain.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Use the meter before taking bronchodilators. This is because measuring peak flow before using bronchodilators provides a baseline measurement of the client's lung function. Taking bronchodilators could artificially improve the results, making it harder to assess the true severity of the asthma. Explanation for why other choices are incorrect: B: Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly is not necessary for using a peak flow meter. C: Performing the test while lying down can affect the accuracy of the results as the body position can impact lung function. D: Repeating the test and recording the result may not be necessary unless specifically instructed by the healthcare provider.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Airborne precautions. Tuberculosis is an airborne disease spread through respiratory droplets. Airborne precautions include wearing an N95 mask, isolating the patient in a negative pressure room, and ensuring proper ventilation. This type of precaution is necessary to prevent the transmission of TB to others. Droplet precautions (choice A) are used for diseases transmitted through larger respiratory droplets. Contact precautions (choice B) are for diseases spread through direct contact with the patient or contaminated surfaces. Standard precautions (choice D) are used for all patients to prevent the spread of infection, but they are not sufficient for TB due to its airborne nature.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Encouraging fluid intake of at least 3 liters per day. Increasing fluid intake helps to thin the mucus, making it easier to clear from the airways. Adequate hydration also helps to keep the mucus membranes moist, facilitating mucus clearance. This intervention promotes effective coughing and expectoration, ultimately aiding in clearing the excess mucus associated with bronchitis. Choice B: Administering prescribed antitussive medication would not be effective in promoting mucus clearance as antitussives suppress coughing, which is needed to clear mucus. Choice C: Positioning the client in a high Fowler's position may improve breathing but does not directly address mucus clearance. Choice D: Limiting activity to conserve energy does not promote mucus clearance. In fact, some degree of activity can help mobilize mucus and facilitate its clearance.