Final answer:
Expectorants work by stimulating secretions to thin and loosen mucus, which helps to effectively cough out the mucus from the airways. They are different from cough suppressants, which suppress the cough reflex. A nurse should clarify this action to clients taking expectorants.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse should explain to the client that expectorants, which are often used to treat coughs, have the action of stimulating secretions. Expectorants work by thinning and loosening mucus, making it easier to cough up and clear out of the airways. This is particularly important when a person has a productive cough, where mucus is present and needs to be expelled from the body to aid in recovery. Unlike cough suppressants that work on the nervous system to suppress the urge to cough, expectorants help to improve the efficiency of the cough reflex and facilitate the removal of mucus.
It is important to note that the effectiveness of cough medication, including expectorants, can sometimes be questionable and should be used as advised by a healthcare professional. Dr. Tsosie's recommendation to Sacheen, who had bronchitis, to avoid cough suppressants in favor of treatments that could help expel mucus aligns with this understanding of the different types of medication and their actions.