The client who is near death is having severe dyspnea. What is the best management strategy for this problem?
A. Teach the family how to perform nasotracheal or oral-tracheal suctioning.
B. Request that the physician order administration of morphine sulfate.
C. Document the finding as the only action.
D. Initiate endotracheal intubation and ventilator.
B
Morphine sulfate is the standard treatment for dyspnea near death, relieving both the psycholog-ical and physiologic distress that accompanies breathlessness. Suctioning would not open airways that are compressed by a thoracic tumor and would only cause the client considerable discomfort. Endotracheal intubation would also only contribute to the client's discomfort. Taking no action beyond documentation is unacceptable.
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