The Student Nurse Is Learning About How to Care for Patients

The student nurse is learning about how to care for patients who have had thoracic surgery following a diagnosis of lung cancer. The intensive care unit nurse is assessing the student's understanding. Which of the following statements by the student indicates the need for further education? Select all that apply.

A) "I should assess the patient's respiratory system at least every four hours."
B) "I really shouldn't even offer narcotic pain medications to this patient because it will result in severe respiratory depression."
C) "If there are items that the patient needs frequently, I should keep them across the hospital room.This will ensure that the patient will get better faster."
D) "The patient's head of bed should be maintained between 15 and 30 degrees."
E) "The area between the visceral and parietal pleura must be filled with positive pressure to work appropriately and this can be accomplished with a functioning chest tube."