A patient is diagnosed with pleurisy. What should the nurse suggest to the patient to alleviate the associated chest pain from this disorder?
1. instructing the patient to take the prescribed analgesic only when the pain is severe
2. teaching the patient how to splint the affected area when coughing
3. advising the patient to maintain bed rest
4. warning the patient to expect a fever to develop
Correct Answer: 2
Nursing care for the patient with pleuritis is directed toward promoting comfort, including administration of NSAIDs and analgesics. Positioning and splinting the chest while coughing also are helpful. Teach the patient and family that pleuritis is generally self-limited and of short duration. Discuss symptoms to report to the physician: increased fever, productive cough, difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath.
You might also like to view...
A patient in the high-risk OB unit has suffered a seizure and is now postictal. She is on oxygen at 2L/minute. Which assessment by the nurse warrants immediate intervention?
A. Fetal heart rate is 98 beats/minute on electronic fetal monitor strip. B. Maternal oxygen saturation is 94% by pulse oximetry. C. Mother is sleeping soundly and is difficult to arouse. D. Mother's respiratory rate is 12 breaths/minute.
The nurse is caring for a patient with a heightened stress response following a fearful experience. When assessing this patient, what findings will the nurse attribute to this response? (Select all that apply.)
A) Elevated serum blood glucose B) Reduced inflammatory response C) Heightened immune response D) Increased blood volume E) Extreme hunger
An international effort to develop a universal evidence evaluation system is known as ____________; it ranks the strength and quality of evidence into four levels
a. AHRQ b. GRADE c. USPSTF d. WHO
Which of the following statements best describes why the federal government has become involved in health care?
a. The states asked the federal level to become involved. b. Because of rising costs to the states, the federal budget needed to be used to pay for necessary services. c. The Constitution gives the federal government the power to promote the general welfare. d. This step was necessary to standardize care on a national level.