A 49 year old male patient who has a right-sided chest tube after a thoracotomy has continuous bubbling in the suction-control chamber of the collection device. Which action by the RN is appropriate?

Which information will be most important for the RN to communicate to the health care provider about an older patient who has influenza?

The ICU RN has just auscultated coarse crackles bilaterally on a 45 year old male patient with a tracheostomy tube in place. If the patient is unsuccessful in coughing up secretions, what action should the nurse take?

An ICU patient is to receive a dopamine infusion. What does the RN do to prepare for this infusion?

After change-of-shift report, which patient should the critical care RN assess first?

The critical care RN notes that a patient’s endotracheal tube (ET), which was at the 22-cm mark, is now at the 25-cm mark, and the patient is anxious and restless. Which action should the RN take next?

An ICU RN cares for a patient with infective endocarditis. Which infection control precautions would the RN use?

The RN teaches a 24 year old male patient who has asthma about peak flowmeter use. Which action by the patient indicates that teaching was successful?

After teaching a 48 year old female patient who is being discharged home after mitral valve replacement surgery, the ICU RN assesses the patient’s understanding. Which patient statement indicates a need for additional teaching?

The RN is teaching a 68 year old male patient who is prescribed digoxin therapy. Which statement would the nurse include in this patient’s teaching?