Question

A client with a pale-yellow productive cough tells the nurse that the sputum is becoming thicker and a darker yellow. The client does not have a fever or elevations of the white blood cells. The lung sounds are course crackles that clear with coughing. What actions should the nurse take next? 1. Collect a sputum specimen and obtain an order for a culture and sensitivity. 2. Obtain suction for the bedside. 3. Obtain an order for an incentive spirometer. 4. Encourage the client to drink more water.

Answer 1

The patent is suffering from cough and the sputum is becoming darker and thicker. So the next step is to obtain suction for the bedside. Suctioning is doing to improve the oxygenation by removing the sputum and other secretions from mouth and throat.

Culture and sensitivity tests are done to find out the exact cause of the problem. Culture test will identify the presence of fungus or bacteria that causes infection to lungs. The sensitivity test is performing to decide the right treatment and medicine for the patient. An incentive spirometer can be useful for maintaining lungs healthy especially after detecting the diseases such as pneumonia or after surgery.