Progressive Care Nursing Certification (PCCN) Practice Exam

For a patient who is newly extubated with symptoms of pneumonia, what is the priority nursing intervention?

1. Lasix 40 mg IVP and increase Oxygen to 4 L/min

2. Albuterol inhaler and methylprednisolone 125 mg IVP

3. Serum BNP and HCTZ

4. Blood culture and IV antibiotics

The correct answer is: Blood culture and IV antibiotics

The priority nursing intervention for a patient who is newly extubated and showing symptoms of pneumonia is to obtain a blood culture and initiate IV antibiotics. This approach is critical for managing pneumonia, especially in a patient who has just been extubated, as they are at an increased risk for respiratory complications and infection. Collecting a blood culture is essential for identifying the causative organism of the pneumonia, which allows for targeted antibiotic therapy. Initiating IV antibiotics promptly is important to combat the infection aggressively, especially considering the patient's compromised respiratory status post-extubation. This intervention can help in reducing the risk of further respiratory decline and other complications. Other options, such as giving diuretics or bronchodilators, while they serve roles in respiratory management, do not directly address the underlying infection as effectively as timely administration of antibiotics. Therefore, prioritizing the assessment and management of the pneumonia itself through cultures and antibiotic therapy is crucial in this scenario.