(^142) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified
- The patient hospitalized with bronchitis is concerned that she might have
chronic bronchitis. She asks you to explain the difference between acute
and chronic bronchitis. What is the best response?
(a) Acute bronchitis lasts for three consecutive months and is reversible.
(b) Acute bronchitis lasts seven to ten days.
(c) Chronic bronchitis lasts three consecutive months in two consecutive
years, resulting in blockage of the airways and cannot be reversed.
Acute bronchitis is caused by a viral or bacterial infection and lasts
about ten days. Blockage of the airways is reversible in acute bronchitis.
(d) I will ask your physician to explain the differences during his rounds. - A patient who has successfully been treated for a pulmonary embolism is
about to be discharged. How can he lower the risk of experiencing another
pulmonary embolism?
(a) Avoid sitting and standing for too long and do not cross legs.
(b) Take vitamin K with heparin.
(c) Avoid confined spaces.
(d) Jog five miles each day. - The physician orders a pulmonary function test. The patient asks you how
the test is performed. The best response is:
(a) A tube is inserted into your lungs while you are asleep to expand your
lungs to their full capacity.
(b) You breathe through a mouthpiece into a spirometer until all air in your
lungs is expelled. Then you will take a deep breath through the mouth-
piece. This is done three times and a computer calculates the capacity
of your lungs.
(c) You breathe into a spirometer to measure your lung capacity.
(d) A computer is used to measure your volume and vital capacity.