The nurse is creating a plan of care for an obese patient who is suffering from fatigue related to ineffective breathing. Which intervention best addresses a short-term goal that the patient could achieve?
a. Running 30 minutes every morning
b. Stopping smoking immediately
c. Sleeping on two to three pillows at night
d. Limiting the diet to 1500 calories a day
C
To achieve a short-term goal, the nurse should plan a lifestyle change that the patient can make immediately that will have a quick effect. Sleeping on several pillows at night will immediately relieve orthopnea and open the patient's airway, thereby reducing sleep apnea and reducing fatigue. Running 30 minutes a day will improve cardiopulmonary health, but a patient needs to build up exercise tolerance. Smoking cessation is another process that many people have difficulty doing immediately. It often occurs as a slow progression, beginning with reduction of frequency. A more realistic short-term goal would be to gradually reduce the number of cigarettes smoked. Limiting caloric intake can help a patient lose weight, but this is a gradual process and is not reasonable for a short-term goal.
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1. Medical 2. Nursing 3. Physical therapy 4. Spiritual
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Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).