Med-surg questions and answers

1. The nurse teaches a patient about discharge instructions after a rhinoplasty. Which statement, if made by the patient, indicates that the teaching was successful? a. I can take 800 mg ibuprofen for pain control. b. I will safely remove and reapply nasal packing daily. c. My nose will look normal after 24 hours when the swelling goes away. d. I will keep my head elevated for 48 hours to minimize swelling and pain. Maintaining the head in an elevated position will decrease the amount of nasal swelling. NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, increase the risk for postoperative bleeding and should not be used postoperatively. The patient would not be taught to remove or reapply nasal packing, which is usually removed by the surgeon on the day after surgery. Although return to a preinjury appearance is the goal of the surgery, it is not always possible to achieve this result, especially in the first few weeks after surgery. 2. The nurse plans to teach a patient how to manage allergic rhinitis. Which information should the nurse include in the teaching plan? a. Hand washing is the primary way to prevent spreading the condition to others. b. Use of oral antihistamines for 2 weeks before the allergy season may prevent reactions. c. Corticosteroid nasal sprays will reduce inflammation, but systemic effects limit their use. d. Identification and avoidance of environmental triggers are the best way to avoid symptoms. The most important intervention is to assist the patient in identifying and avoiding potential allergens. Intranasal corticosteroids (not oral antihistamines) should be started several weeks before the allergy season. Corticosteroid nasal sprays have minimal systemic absorption. Acute viral rhinitis (the common cold) can be prevented by washing hands. 3. The nurse discusses management of upper respiratory infections (URI) with a patient who has acute sinusitis. Which statement by the patient indicates that additional teaching is needed?