2. The nurse is providing an education session to an adult community group about the effects of smoking

on infection. Which information is mostimportant for the nurse to include in the educational session?

a. Smoke from tobacco products clings to your clothing and hair.

b. Smoking affects the cilia lining the upper airways in the lungs.

c. Smoking can affect the color of the patient’s fingernails.

d. Smoking tobacco products can be very expensive.

ANS: B

A normal defense mechanism against infection in the respiratory tract is the cilia lining the upper

airways of the lungs and normal mucus. When a patient inhales a microbe, the cilia and mucus trap the

microbe and sweep them up and out to be expectorated or swallowed. Smoking may alter this defense

mechanism and increase the patient’s potential for infection. Smoking can be expensive, the smell

does cling to hair and clothing, and the tar within the smoke can alter the color of a patient’s nails. This

information can be included in the education but does not constitute the most important point.

3. A female adult patient presents to the clinic with reports of a white discharge and itching in the

vaginalarea. A nurse is taking a health history. Which question is the priority?

“When was the last time you visited your primary health care

a. provider?”

b. “Has this condition affected your eating habits in any way?”

c. “What medications are you currently taking?”

d. “Are you able to sleep at night?”

ANS: C