A client has been brought in by the rescue squad to the emergency department. The client is having an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is severely short of breath
On arrival, the client is on 15 L/min of oxygen via rebreather mask. Which action by the nurse takes priority? a. Immediately reduce the oxygen flow to 2 to 4 L/min via nasal cannula.
b. Perform a thorough respiratory assessment and attach pulse oximetry.
c. Call the laboratory to obtain arterial blood gases as soon as possible.
d. Obtain a stat chest x-ray, then slowly wean the client's oxygen down.
B
Oxygen-induced hypoventilation can occur in clients with chronically elevated PCO2 levels, such as those seen in COPD. Giving oxygen can eliminate their hypoxic drive to breathe and can cause respiratory arrest. However, hypoxemia is a greater threat to an acutely ill client than is the potential for oxygen-induced hypoventilation, and clients should be given the amount of oxygen they require. The nurse should perform a thorough respiratory assessment and should monitor the client for signs of this problem, rather than automatically reducing oxygen delivery. Blood gases and a chest x-ray will also be obtained, but they do not take priority over assessing and monitoring the client.
You might also like to view...
How many milliliters of a 1:30 dextrose solution contain 3 grams of dextrose?
1. 10 mL 2. 100 mL 3. 90 mL 4. 9 mL
An elderly client is admitted with worsening dementia. Which of the following health problems should the nurse consider as causing this client's dementia?
1. Depression 2. Alzheimer's disease 3. Memory impairment 4. Alcohol withdrawal
An infant is separated from his parents for a few minutes while the nurse weighs him. The infant seems distressed and looks around for the mother. The mother soothes the infant then the nurse is through weighing him
This type of attachment between mother and baby is most likely which of the following types of attachment? a. avoidant c. secure b. disorganized d. strange
Which assessment finding best supports dissociative fugue? The patient states:
a. "I cannot recall why I'm living in this town." b. "I feel as if I'm living in a fuzzy dream state." c. "I feel like different parts of my body are at war." d. "I feel very anxious and worried about my problems."