A patient is admitted to the critical care unit with acute respiratory failure secondary to COPD. The patient has a 15-year history of emphysema and bronchitis. On inspection, the nurse notes that the patient is experiencing air trapping
While auscultating his chest, you note the presence of coarse, rumbling, low-pitched sounds in the right middle and lower lobes. Which of the following best describes the patient's breathing pattern? a. Deep sighing breaths without pauses
b. Rapid, shallow breaths
c. Normal breathing pattern interspersed with forced expirations
d. Irregular breathing pattern with both deep and shallow breaths
C
Air trapping is described as a normal breathing pattern interspersed with forced expirations. As the patient breathes, air becomes trapped in the lungs, and ventilations become progressively shallower until the patient actively and forcefully exhales.
You might also like to view...
Before an infant is discharged following circumcision, the nurse should ensure that the infant must meet which of these criteria?
a. normal vital signs for a minimum of 4 hours b. tolerated at least one feeding c. minimal bleeding and one voiding d. at least two voidings and minimal crying
Which of the following questions should a reviewer ask when critiquing a study's framework?
a. How are the concepts defined? b. What level of measurement are the variables? c. What measurement methods are used in the study? d. What statistical package will be used for analysis?
A 35-year-old man is seen in an urgent care clinic. He presents with symptoms of polycythemia vera. The laboratory value that would confirm the possible diagnosis is an ex-tremely:
1. high hemoglobin level. 2. low white cell count. 3. low platelet count. 4. high iron level.
The nurse would stress to the ancillary staff that the most important means of preventing the spread of infection in the burn unit is
a. prophylactic antibiotics. b. restricting visitors with respiratory tract infections. c. strict hand-washing. d. using clean gowns, gloves, and masks.