The nurse best maximizes an older adult's potential to avoid developing a postsurgical respiratory infection by:
A)walking the patient to the bathroom instead of using the bedside commode.
B)encouraging compliance with prescribed antibiotic therapy.
C)evaluating the patient's ability to effectively cough and deep breathe.
D)offering fluids every hour while the patient is awake.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Older adults have a decrease in the number and effectiveness of cilia in the tracheobronchial tree,which results in increasing difficulty clearing secretions.The other activities also help avoid atelectasis and infection,but evaluating the patient's ability to cough and deep breathe can indicate that other treatment measures may be needed postoperatively.

The Nurse Best Maximizes an Older Adult's Potential to Avoid