The nurse is caring for a postoperative patient who has a history of COPD. What is the priority nursing diagnosis for this patient?
a. Ineffective airway clearance
b. Readiness for enhanced knowledge
c. Risk for delayed surgical recovery
d. Activity intolerance
ANS: A
Ineffective airway clearance is the priority diagnosis for the COPD patient undergoing surgery because the patient is at high risk for bronchoconstriction, increased mucus, and ineffective cough, which may easily become worse after the patient has received general anesthesia. The other nursing diagnoses are applicable to the patient but are not as high priority.
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