When caring for a patient with a lung abscess, what is a priority nursing intervention?

In the context of caring for a patient with a lung abscess, encouraging deep breathing and coughing is a priority nursing intervention. This approach is critical because lung abscesses can lead to various complications, including the accumulation of secretions and impaired gas exchange. Deep breathing exercises help to promote lung expansion, facilitate the clearing of secretions, and improve ventilation. By actively encouraging the patient to take deep breaths and cough effectively, the healthcare provider helps to prevent atelectasis (collapse of lung tissue), enhances oxygenation, and supports overall lung health.

While administering antibiotics is an essential component of treatment for a lung abscess due to its infectious nature, it usually follows the initial nursing interventions aimed at improving respiratory function. Monitoring vital signs is also crucial but generally serves to assess the patient's response to treatment rather than directly altering the course of the abscess itself. Providing pain relief is important for patient comfort but does not directly address the underlying respiratory concerns associated with lung abscesses. Therefore, encouraging deep breathing and coughing takes precedence among the listed interventions.