Upper Respiratory
This condition involves a deflection or shift of the nasal septum, often caused by trauma, leading to obstruction or nosebleeds.
What is a deviated septum?
A deviated septum results from trauma or congenital causes, leading to obstruction, frequent infections, and nosebleeds. Treatment may include septoplasty for severe cases.
This emergency procedure creates an opening in the trachea to bypass an upper airway obstruction.
What is a tracheostomy?
A tracheostomy is performed to establish a patent airway and allow long-term ventilation or secretion removal.
This common lower respiratory infection is characterized by inflammation of the bronchi, often following a viral upper respiratory infection.
What is acute bronchitis?
Acute bronchitis often follows a URI, presenting with cough, sputum, and wheezing; supportive care is primary treatment.
Tuberculosis is caused by this organism.
What is Mycobacterium tuberculosis?
TB is an airborne disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which lodges in the lungs and may spread systemically.
The leading cause of lung cancer.
What is cigarette smoking?
Cigarette smoking accounts for approximately 85% of lung cancer cases and is the primary modifiable risk factor.
When managing epistaxis, the patient should be positioned this way to prevent aspiration.
What is sitting up and leaning forward?
Leaning forward prevents blood from draining into the throat and airway, reducing the risk of aspiration or nausea.
The nurse should keep this item at the bedside at all times for emergency tracheostomy replacement.
What is a spare tracheostomy tube of equal or smaller size?
Having a spare tube ready allows rapid reinsertion if accidental dislodgement occurs, preventing airway loss.
Pertussis is distinguished by this hallmark symptom during the second stage of infection.
What is an uncontrollable, violent cough with a 'whooping' sound?
Pertussis progresses through stages, with the paroxysmal stage featuring the characteristic 'whooping' cough.
A person with latent TB infection is characterized by this key feature.
What is being infected but not contagious?
Latent TB shows positive skin or blood tests but no symptoms and cannot spread to others.
This type of lung cancer grows slowly and is often associated with a chronic cough and hemoptysis.
What is squamous cell carcinoma?
Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of non–small-cell lung cancer that grows slowly and often causes hemoptysis.
Allergic rhinitis is primarily caused by exposure to these, leading to IgE-mediated inflammation.
What are allergens?
Allergens such as pollen, dust, and pet dander trigger IgE-mediated inflammation, causing congestion, sneezing, and watery eyes.
After tracheostomy placement, the nurse should wait at least this long before changing trach ties.
What is 24 hours?
Changing ties too early may dislodge the new tube. The first change is performed by the provider after 7 days.
The most common causative organism of community-acquired pneumonia.
What is Streptococcus pneumoniae?
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of CAP; vaccines like Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23 prevent infection.
A positive TB skin test in a low-risk individual is defined by this size of induration.
What is 15 mm or greater?
The size of induration required for positivity varies with risk; 15 mm is positive for those with no known risk factors.
This diagnostic test provides a definitive diagnosis of lung cancer.
What is a lung biopsy?
A biopsy confirms malignancy and identifies cancer type, guiding treatment planning.
This viral infection, also known as the common cold, should not be treated with antibiotics unless bacterial complications occur.
What is acute viral rhinopharyngitis?
Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections; supportive care includes fluids, rest, and symptom relief.
This valve allows a patient with a tracheostomy to speak by redirecting air through the vocal cords.
What is a Passy-Muir valve?
The Passy-Muir valve enables speech by allowing exhaled air to flow over the vocal cords when the cuff is deflated.
Crackles, bronchial breath sounds, and increased fremitus are signs of this pneumonia complication.
What is consolidation?
Consolidation occurs when alveoli fill with exudate, causing characteristic lung sounds and tactile changes.
The first-line drugs used in the initial 4-drug regimen for active TB include these medications.
What are isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol?
These four drugs are used for 8–12 weeks during the initial phase to prevent resistance and achieve bactericidal effects.
This classification system is used to stage non–small-cell lung cancer.
What is the TNM system?
The TNM system describes tumor size (T), nodal involvement (N), and metastasis (M) to guide staging and treatment.
A patient with influenza is most contagious starting this time frame relative to symptom onset.
What is 1 day before symptom onset and up to 5–7 days after?
Influenza is spread through droplets and patients are contagious 1 day before symptoms appear until approximately 5–7 days after onset.
When a tracheostomy tube becomes dislodged and cannot be replaced, the nurse should take this immediate action.
What is cover the stoma with sterile gauze and ventilate with a bag-valve mask?
Covering the stoma prevents air escape while maintaining oxygenation via BVM until the airway is re-established.
The nurse should obtain these diagnostic samples before administering antibiotics for pneumonia.
What are sputum and blood cultures?
Cultures identify the causative organism and guide antibiotic selection; they must be collected prior to starting therapy.
This common side effect of rifampin can alarm patients but is harmless.
What is orange discoloration of body fluids?
Rifampin causes harmless orange-red discoloration of urine, sweat, tears, and saliva; patient teaching is essential.
The nurse should prioritize this intervention for a patient with advanced lung cancer experiencing dyspnea and anxiety.
What is administering oxygen and positioning for comfort?
Oxygen therapy and upright positioning relieve dyspnea and anxiety by improving oxygenation and lung expansion.
A complication of sinusitis characterized by purulent drainage, congestion, and facial tenderness.
What is acute bacterial sinusitis?
Acute sinusitis presents with pain, purulent drainage, and congestion lasting more than a week; treated with antibiotics if bacterial.
The cuff pressure of a tracheostomy should be maintained within this range to prevent tracheal damage.
What is 20–25 cm H₂O?
Maintaining appropriate cuff pressure prevents tracheal necrosis while ensuring adequate ventilation and sealing.
Older adults with pneumonia may present atypically with this symptom instead of fever.
What is confusion or stupor?
Atypical symptoms in older adults include confusion or hypothermia due to decreased immune response.
The nurse must implement this type of isolation for a hospitalized TB patient.
What is airborne isolation?
TB spreads via airborne droplets; negative-pressure rooms and N95 masks prevent transmission.
This subtype of lung cancer is the most malignant, grows rapidly, and often metastasizes early.
What is small-cell lung cancer (SCLC)?
SCLC is highly aggressive and often treated with chemotherapy and radiation; surgery is rarely an option.
This life-threatening condition may occur as a complication of pneumonia, characterized by widespread infection and organ dysfunction.
What is sepsis or septic shock?
Sepsis is a severe complication of infection leading to systemic inflammation, hypotension, and organ failure.