Question

A nurse is planning care for a client who has community-acquired pneumonia. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?

A. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
B. Providing chest physiotherapy every 4 hours
C. Encouraging frequent coughing and deep breathing
D. Restricting fluid intake

Answer 1

For a client with community-acquired pneumonia, the nurse should include encouraging frequent coughing and deep breathing, and provide other supportive care as needed. Prophylactic antibiotics are not used to treat active infections, and fluid intake should not be restricted as it helps thin pulmonary secretions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Interventions for Community-Acquired Pneumonia

When caring for a client with community-acquired pneumonia, it is crucial to focus on interventions that aid recovery and improve lung function. Among the interventions, providing chest physiotherapy can be beneficial, but it is not typically performed every 4 hours. Instead, a more commonly recommended practice includes encouraging frequent coughing and deep breathing, which helps to clear the lungs of sputum and maintain open airways, facilitating better gas exchange. This is supported by the clinical case where John, a patient with pneumonia, required intervention and there's a recognition that effective treatment often includes more than just antibiotics. Moreover, administering prophylactic antibiotics is not suitable because prophylaxis refers to preventing an infection before it occurs, not treating an active infection like pneumonia. Restricting fluid intake is generally not advisable either, as adequate hydration helps thin secretions, making them easier to expect.

While the case studies describe antibiotic therapy that was initially ineffective, possibly due to viral or antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, it emphasizes that the choice of antibiotic should be based on culture results or empiric therapy if cultures are pending. However, identifying the correct intervention requires reviewing the specifics of each case, including the pathogen involved and the patient's overall condition.

Patients with pneumonia should be monitored closely for complications and receive supportive care as needed, which includes proper medication administration, oxygen therapy if required, and immunizations to prevent similar infections in the future, such as pneumococcal vaccines.