Question

The nurse is caring for a critically ill patient with respiratory failure who is being treated with mechanical ventilation. As part of the patient's care to prevent stress ulcers, the nurse would provide: (Select all that apply.)

a.vagal stimulation.
b.proton pump inhibitors.
c.anticholinergic drugs.
d.antacids.
e.cholinergic drugs.

Answer 1

To prevent stress ulcers in a patient with respiratory failure on mechanical ventilation, a nurse would administer proton pump inhibitors and antacids; anticholinergic drugs, cholinergic drugs, and vagal stimulation are not appropriate for this purpose.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse caring for a critically ill patient with respiratory failure on mechanical ventilation would provide the following to prevent stress ulcers:

• Proton pump inhibitors: These are medications like omeprazole (Prilosec) that work by decreasing the amount of acid made in the stomach.
• Antacids: These help relieve symptoms of ulcers such as "burning" pain and indigestion.

Anticholinergic drugs and cholinergic drugs are not typically used for the prevention of stress ulcers, as they can affect gastric secretions and motility in ways that may not be beneficial for this purpose. Moreover, vagal stimulation is not a treatment method for preventing stress ulcers, and therefore would not be part of the care regimen.