A client diagnosed with chronic bronchitis is awakened from sleep experiencing shortness of breath
The nurse suspects that he is experiencing orthopnea and suggests positioning him to minimize the dyspnea so he can sleep more peacefully. The nurse best describes this position to the client as:
1. "I'll use pillows to take the pressure off your lungs so that they can expand more effectively."
2. "By leaning forward and resting on these pillows, you will be least likely to be short of breath."
3. "This is an upright position that you will be comfortable in and able to breathe more effectively."
4. "We'll place two pillows behind your back so you are sitting more upright; that will let you rest better."
ANS: 4
Orthopnea is an abnormal condition in which the client uses multiple pillows when lying down or must sit with the arms elevated and leaning forward to breathe. The number of pillows used, such as two or three pillows, usually helps to quantify the orthopnea (e.g., two- or three-pillow or-thopnea).
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