When teaching a postoperative patient to cough effectively, which instruction should the nurse give?

Correct answer: B. Take a deep breath, then cough two or three times

  • A. Take a shallow breath and cough once
  • B. Take a deep breath, then cough two or three times
  • C. Breathe rapidly before coughing forcefully
  • D. Suppress the cough to reduce wound discomfort

Explanation

A deep breath increases lung volume, and controlled coughing helps move secretions toward the larger airways. Splinting the incision with a pillow can reduce discomfort, but suppressing the cough can allow secretions to remain in the airway.

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About Oxygen Therapy and Airway Care

Airway care includes positioning, suctioning, coughing and deep-breathing exercises, incentive spirometry, oxygen delivery devices and humidification. Questions address indications, flow rates, safety precautions and monitoring for hypoxia or oxygen toxicity, while distinguishing nasal cannula, simple mask, non-rebreather mask and Venturi mask use.

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