RN Nursing · Airway Management · Practice question
A nurse teaches a patient about atelectasis. Which statement by the patient indicates an understanding of atelectasis?
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Hyperventilation will open up my alveoli, preventing atelectasis.
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Atelectasis affects only those with chronic conditions such as emphysema.
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✓
It is important to do breathing exercises every hour to prevent atelectasis.
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If I develop atelectasis, I will need a chest tube to drain excess fluid.
Answer & explanation
Correct: It is important to do breathing exercises every hour to prevent atelectasis.
Atelectasis is the collapse of alveoli, most commonly occurring when small airways become obstructed by mucus or when alveoli are not periodically expanded. Deep breathing exercises, incentive spirometry, and coughing performed every one to two hours — especially after surgery or during periods of immobility — maintain alveolar expansion by increasing tidal volume and preventing mucus plugging, which is the primary mechanism for preventing atelectasis. The statement about performing breathing exercises every hour demonstrates accurate understanding of this preventive strategy. Hyperventilation does not selectively open collapsed alveoli; in fact, rapid, shallow breathing can worsen atelectasis, and hyperventilation carries its own risks such as respiratory alkalosis. Atelectasis is not exclusive to people with chronic conditions like emphysema — it can develop in anyone who breathes shallowly, undergoes general anesthesia, or is on prolonged bed rest, including otherwise healthy individuals. A chest tube drains air or fluid from the pleural space, which is the treatment for pneumothorax or pleural effusion, not atelectasis; atelectasis is managed with mobilization, deep breathing, and sometimes bronchoscopy if severe.
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