A nurse should use which measure initially to reduce dyspnea in a patient with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?
a. Administer a dose of an ordered prn bronchodilator.
b. Encourage the patient to use an incentive spirometer.
c. Assist the patient to cough and deep breathe.
d. Elevate the head of the bed.
D
Dyspnea occurs in many chronic and end-stage diseases and the nurse can assist the patient with shortness of breath by raising the head of the bed to a comfortable position. Bronchodilators may be used as an aid, but positioning is noninvasive and is a first-line intervention. Incentive spirometry, coughing, and deep breathing would prevent atelectasis but would not treat the symptom of dyspnea resulting from the end-stage disease process.
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