Question

The nurse provides care to several hospitalized clients. Which clients does the nurse monitor closely for the development of pneumonia? (Select all that apply.)

1. A client who has experimented with cigarettes.
2. A client diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.
3. A client diagnosed with Addison disease.
4. An adult client diagnosed with hypertension.
5. A client with a fractured rib due to an auto accident.
6. A client in Buck traction due to a fractured hip.

Answer 1

The clients who should be monitored closely for the development of pneumonia include those with cystic fibrosis, a fractured rib from an auto accident, and those in Buck traction due to a fractured hip, due to their higher susceptibility to lung infections.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should monitor several clients closely for the development of pneumonia, including:

• A client diagnosed with cystic fibrosis due to the accumulation of dry mucus in the lungs which inhibits the mucociliary escalator making them more susceptible to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.
• A client with a fractured rib due to an auto accident because they are at risk for hypoventilation and subsequent pneumonia.
• A client in Buck traction with a fractured hip as immobility can increase the risk for pulmonary complications, including pneumonia.

While experimenting with cigarettes could potentially increase the risk of respiratory infections, a client who has only experimented with them might not be at as high a risk as a chronic smoker. On the other hand, a client with a preexisting condition like cystic fibrosis is known to have impaired lung defenses, hence being at a higher risk. Patients with conditions such as hypertension or Addison's disease are not at an inherently higher risk for pneumonia unless they have other associated risk factors.