A 16-Year-Old Male with Cystic Fibrosis Is Admitted to the Inpatient

Multiple Choice

A 16-year-old male with cystic fibrosis is admitted to the inpatient pulmonary unit. He has been hospitalized several times in the past year with respiratory infections, including Pseudomonas and H. influenza. Because of his thick mucous, airway inflammation, and immobile mucosal cilia, microorganisms are unable to be effectively cleared from his lungs. He is supposed to perform vigorous airway mucous clearance measures at home with a vibrating vest and IPV (intrapulmonary percussive ventilation) device. However, the patient states that his treatment takes hours and he does not always feel sick. He estimates his compliance with home airway clearance regimen to be less than 50%.
-Following teaching by the medical team,the patient asks "can I just do my airway clearance exercises when I am not feeling well and on the weekends,even though the doctor tells me I have to do them every day?" What is a correct response by the nurse?

A) It is okay to skip your airway clearance if you are not feeling sick as long as you are compliant on the weekends.
B) Your body does not have the ability to protect itself because of its damaged immunity so you must do airway clearance regularly.
C) As long as you perform airway clearance twice as often when you start to feel sick,you will make up the difference.
D) Your airway clearance activities can be performed at your convenience.