The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with pneumonia,teaching him or her how to cough and deep-breathe.The patient asks,"Why is drinking fluids so important?" What is the nurse's best response?

A) "The doctor ordered increased fluid intake."
B) "Fluids prevent pathogens from growing in your lungs."
C) "Fluids help to flush infection away so it doesn't grow in your lungs."
D) "Fluids make secretions thin, making them easier to cough up."

Although the doctor may have prescribed increased fluid intake,this does not explain why it is important.Fluids do not prevent the growth of pathogens.Fluids do not flush out the lungs because they do not,normally,enter the lungs.Fluids help to thin secretions and keep them from becoming thick and gluelike,which would be much harder to mobilize.Thin secretions will reduce the effort required by the patient to cough mucus into the larger airways and expectorate it.