Question

Which patient should the nurse assess first?

a. The patient whose respiratory rate is 26 breaths per minute and whose trachea deviates to the right.
b. The patient who has pleuritic chest pain, bilateral crackles, a productive cough of yellow sputum, and fever.
c. The patient who is short of breath, using pursed-lip breathing, and in a tripod position.
d. The patient whose respiratory rate is 20 breaths/min, and has 8-word dyspnea and expiratory wheezes.

Answer 1

The nurse should assess the patient who has pleuritic chest pain, bilateral crackles, a productive cough of yellow sputum, and fever. These symptoms indicate a possible respiratory infection such as pneumonia.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should assess the patient b. who has pleuritic chest pain, bilateral crackles, a productive cough of yellow sputum, and fever. These symptoms indicate a possible respiratory infection such as pneumonia. The crackling sound and shortness of breath suggest fluid in the lungs. The productive cough and yellow sputum indicate the presence of infection.