A terminally ill patient is experiencing dyspnea and tells the nurse that he feels like he is suffocating. What can the nurse do to assist this patient?
1. Keep the room cool with a slight breeze.
2. Increase the heat in the room.
3. Provide additional intravenous fluids.
4. Assist the patient to a sitting position out of bed.
Correct Answer: 1
Nursing care to improve respirations includes keeping the head of the bed elevated, keeping the room cool, and providing a breeze from a fan. Raising the temperature in the room will not reduce the feeling of suffocation. Providing additional intravenous fluids may contribute to fluid accumulation in the lungs and contribute to the feeling of suffocation. The patient is terminally ill with dyspnea and therefore should not be ambulating or sitting out of bed.
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