A nurse is caring for a client following a bronchoscopy with moderate sedation. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.)
Explanation & Rationale
A. "Assess the client's gag reflex before offering oral intake": After a bronchoscopy with moderate sedation, the gag reflex may be temporarily impaired. It is important to assess the gag reflex before offering oral intake to prevent aspiration and choking. B. "Listen to the client's breath sounds": After a bronchoscopy, the nurse should assess the client's breath sounds to identify any signs of complications such as wheezing, stridor, or decreased breath sounds, which could indicate issues like aspiration or pneumothorax. C. "Monitor the client's oxygen saturation": Moderate sedation can affect respiratory function, so monitoring oxygen saturation is important to ensure the client is maintaining adequate oxygenation. D. "Monitor the client for manifestations of bleeding": Bleeding can occur after a bronchoscopy, so the nurse should monitor for signs such as hemoptysis (coughing up blood), as well as other potential signs of bleeding. E. "Assess the client's puncture site": Puncture sites are typically not a concern following a bronchoscopy unless there was a biopsy or another invasive procedure performed during the bronchoscopy. Therefore, assessing the puncture site is not a primary action in this scenario. F. "Observe the client for manifestations of a pneumothorax": A pneumothorax (collapsed lung) is a potential complication of bronchoscopy, particularly if a biopsy was performed. The nurse should observe for signs of pneumothorax such as sudden chest pain, difficulty breathing, or decreased breath sounds on one side of the chest.