The 82-year-old patient from the long-term care facility is brought to the emergency department with wet-sounding cough and increased work of breathing. Vital signs are normal with the exception of tachypnea and an oxygen saturation of 91% on room air. Upon auscultation, the nurse notes diminished breath sounds over the right upper lobe. Chest radiograph indicates consolidation in the right upper lobe of the lung. The nurse prepares the patient for which test?

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Swallow study. The patient is exhibiting signs of aspiration pneumonia which may be related to dysphagia in the aging patient. Therefore, the nurse prepares the patient for a swallow study to determine if the patient aspirates while eating or drinking. Because the patient does not have tachycardia or alterations in temperature, infection is not suspected and a sputum culture, paracentesis, or bloodwork are not necessary at this time.

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