On the day of surgery, the nurse is admitting a patient with a history of cigarette smoking. Which action is most important at this time?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Abnormal breath sounds may indicate the presence of an acute respiratory infection or chronic lung disease that will affect the choice of anesthesia and/or proceeding with the scheduled surgery. The other nursing actions also are appropriate but will not affect the immediate surgical procedure as much as the presence of abnormal breath sounds.

On the Day of Surgery, the Nurse Is Admitting a Patient