The nurse explains to a patient that a cough?

Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse - 2016

Explanation

A cough is a fundamental protective reflex of the respiratory system.
Its primary function is to clear the airways (trachea, bronchi) of mucus, foreign particles, irritants, and microbes.
An effective cough is crucial for preventing lower respiratory tract infections, such as pneumonia, and atelectasis (lung collapse) by clearing retained secretions.

Option B: While a cough can be initiated voluntarily, its primary role as a protective mechanism is as an involuntary reflex triggered by airway irritation.
Option C: Antitussive drugs are cough suppressants. Their function is to inhibit or block the cough reflex, not induce it.
Option D: Splinting an abdominal or chest incision with a pillow reduces pain and provides support, which enables a patient to cough more effectively post-surgery. It does not inhibit the cough reflex.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Physiology of the cough reflex to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Nurses must educate patients, especially post-operative ones, on the importance of coughing to clear secretions and prevent complications.
Teaching patients how to splint their incisions is a key nursing intervention to manage pain and promote effective coughing.
It is critical to assess whether a cough is productive (clearing mucus) or non-productive (dry). A productive cough should generally not be suppressed with antitussives, as it serves a protective function.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept of the question, which is the basic physiological function of a cough.
Read the stem: 'The nurse explains to a patient that a cough...'. This frames the question as a basic patient education point.
Evaluate each option based on your knowledge of respiratory physiology.
Option A describes the primary protective role of a cough. This is a strong candidate.
Option B claims it's 'primarily voluntary'. Recall that while you can force a cough, the reflex from an irritant is involuntary. This makes the option incorrect.
Option C mentions 'antitussive drug'. Recall the function of this drug class. Antitussives suppress coughs, making this option the opposite of correct.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 313-315

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 724-726

Practise the full NHM UP Staff Nurse - 2016

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.