Gas Exchange Basics
•This lung structure is the primary site of gas exchange.
•What are the alveoli?
The first step of a respiratory assessment
•What is inspection?
•Inadequate amount of oxygen available to the cells.
What is hypoxia?
•Position that improves lung expansion.
What is High-Fowler's position
•Precaution required because oxygen supports combustion.
•What is avoiding open flames?
The movement of air in and out of the lungs
•What is ventilation?
•Soft, low-pitched breath sounds heard over most lung fields.
What are vesicular breath sounds?
This term describes difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
What is dyspnea?
•Device that encourages deep breathing postoperatively.
•What is incentive spirometry?
•Product that should not be used near oxygen.
•What are petroleum-based products?
•Movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide between alveoli and capillaries.
•What is diffusion?
•Abnormal breath sound caused by fluid in the airways.
What are crackles?
•Breathing that is too slow or too shallow.
What is hypoventilation?
•Breathing technique that prolongs expiration.
•What is pursed-lip breathing?
•Sign required when oxygen is in use.
•What is a No Smoking sign?
•Movement of oxygenated blood through body tissues.
•What is perfusion?
•An early sign of impaired oxygenation.
•What is restlessness or mild dyspnea?
•Low carbon dioxide levels caused by rapid breathing.
Hypocarbia-respiratory alkalosis
•Intervention that keeps secretions thin.
•What is hydration or humidified air?
FINAL JEOPARDY
A post-op patient has shallow respirations, SpO₂ 90%, and pain with deep breathing.
Which nursing intervention should be prioritized first?
•What is positioning the patient upright and encouraging deep breathing/incentive spirometry?
A factor that increases or decreases available area for gas exchange.
•What is surface area?
•A late sign of hypoxia.
What is cyanosis or altered mental status?
Name a common cardiovascular disease or abnormality that can reduce oxygen delivery.
What is heart failure or dysrhythmias?
•Nursing action that evaluates oxygen therapy effectiveness.
•What is reassessing SpO₂ and respiratory status?