Chapter 13: Care of Patients with Disorders of the Upper Respiratory System

Chapter 13: Care of Patients with Disorders of the Upper Respiratory System

 

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

 

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE

 

1. What is the contagion period of a cold?

a.	2 days
b.	3 days
c.	4 days
d.	7 days

 

 

ANS:  B

The contagion period of a viral cold is about 3 days.

 

PTS:   1                    DIF:    Cognitive Level: Knowledge            REF:   275

OBJ:   1 (theory)       TOP:   Contagion of Colds

KEY:  Nursing Process Step: Implementation

MSC:  NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance

 

2. The nurse is caring for a patient who has had a cold for 1  week. The patient questions why the health care provider issued a prescription for an antibiotic. Which explanation is best?

a.	“The antibiotic will cure your cold.”
b.	“The antibiotic will help to reduce your symptoms.”
c.	“The antibiotic will treat the secondary bacterial infection that has developed.”
d.	“The antibiotic will decrease the amount of time for which you are contagious.”

 

 

ANS:  C

If a cold persists for more than a week to 10 days without improvement, a bacterial infection is present and requires medical treatment. While the etiology of a cold is viral in nature, antibiotics are necessary to this secondary bacterial infection. No cure exists for a cold. Antibiotics will not reduce symptoms of a cold or decrease the contagion period for a cold.

 

PTS:   1                    DIF:    Cognitive Level: Application           REF:   275

OBJ:   1 (theory)       TOP:   Antibiotics     KEY:  Nursing Process Step: Implementation

MSC:  NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological Therapies

 

3. The nurse is caring for a patient with suspected sinusitis. Which assessment finding supports this diagnosis?

a.	Maxillary sinuses nontender on percussion.
b.	Generalized pain in the upper teeth.
c.	Clear drainage from the ear.
d.	Ear pain when lying down

 

 

ANS:  B

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucosal lining of the sinuses. Exudate accumulates in the sinuses and pressure builds, which causes pain. Symptoms include painful upper teeth, tenderness over the sinuses, purulent drainage from the nose, nasal obstruction, and sometimes a nonproductive cough. Drainage from the ear and ear pain when supine are findings likely consistent with an ear infection.

 

PTS:   1                    DIF:    Cognitive Level: Application           REF:   276

OBJ:   1 (theory)       TOP:   Sinusitis         KEY:  Nursing Process Step: Assessment

MSC:  NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance

 

4. The nurse is caring for a 20-year-old patient who recently underwent a tonsillectomy. The patient is fully awake and clearing his throat frequently but denies pain. Which action is most important for the nurse to take first?

a.	Place the patient in a side-lying position.
b.	Look in the patient’s mouth.
c.	Offer the patient a grape popsicle.
d.	Remove the straw from the patient’s tray.

 

 

ANS:  B

Frequent swallowing or clearing of the throat may indicate bleeding. Further assessment is indicated, and the nurse should look in the patient’s mouth to assess for bleeding.

The fully alert adult patient should be placed in semi-Fowler position to ensure adequate ventilation. Offering the patient a grape popsicle is an appropriate intervention once the nurse confirms that the patient is not bleeding. While removing the straw from the tray is an appropriate intervention to prevent bleeding that may result from sucking, the nurse should first ensure that the patient is not currently bleeding.

 

PTS:   1                    DIF:    Cognitive Level: Analysis                REF:   278

OBJ:   1 (theory)       TOP:   Positioning After Tonsillectomy

KEY:  Nursing Process Step: Implementation

MSC:  NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential