Question

A nurse is assisting a provider who's performing a thoracentesis at the beside of a client. which of the following actions should the nurse take?

a.) Wear goggles and a mask during the procedure.
b.) Cleanse the procedure area with an antiseptic solution.
c.) Instruct the client to take deep breaths during the procedure.
d.) Position the client laterally on the affected side before the procedure.
e.) Apply pressure to the site after the procedure.

Answer 1

During a thoracentesis procedure, a nurse should take several actions to ensure safety and effectiveness, including wearing goggles and a mask, cleansing the procedure area, positioning the client on the affected side, and applying pressure to the site after the procedure. Instructing the client to take deep breaths is not necessary.

Step-by-step explanation:

When assisting a provider with a thoracentesis procedure, the nurse should take several actions to ensure safety and effectiveness. These include wearing goggles and a mask to protect against any splashes or aerosolized particles, cleansing the procedure area with an antiseptic solution to reduce the risk of infection, positioning the client laterally on the affected side to facilitate access to the pleural space, and applying pressure to the site after the procedure to prevent bleeding. However, instructing the client to take deep breaths during the procedure is not necessary, as the client usually needs to remain still and refrain from breathing deeply to minimize the risk of complications.