Infectious Invaders (Respiratory Infections)
This highly contagious bacterial infection requires the patient to be placed in airborne precautions and isolated in a negative-pressure room.
What is Tuberculosis (TB)?
Patients with this chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are often nicknamed "Pink Puffers" due to hyperventilation and a classic barrel-chested appearance.
What is Emphysema?
This class of inhaled medications is the standard first-line treatment to provide rapid relief during an acute asthma attack.
What is a short-acting beta2-agonist (SABA) (e.g., Albuterol)?
Medical for the subjective sensation of breathlessness or "air hunger" is the most common primary symptom of respiratory distress.
What is dyspnea?
In a non-intubated patient showing early signs of severe dyspnea, the nurse should immediately help the patient assume this upright positioning to maximize lung expansion.
What is High-Fowler's position?
Patients with a narrowing upper airway will present with a 'barking' or 'seal like cough' representing, representing this medical emergency
What is stridor?
This progressive genetic disease causes the exocrine glands to produce abnormally thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and pancreas.
What is Cystic Fibrosis (CF)?
When a patient is prescribed both a bronchodilator and an inhaled corticosteroid, the nurse must instruct the patient to use this medication first.
What is the bronchodilator?
This late, bluish-purple discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes indicates severe, systemic hypoxia.
What is central cyanosis?
For a spontaneously breathing patient in distress, this simple, low-flow oxygen delivery device can provide between 1 to 6 liters of O₂ per minute.
What is a Nasal Cannula?
This viral respiratory infection is diagnosed using a nasopharyngeal swab and is notoriously linked to a high risk of secondary bacterial pneumonia in elderly patients.
What is Influenza (the flu)?
To prevent hyperventilation and help keep airways open longer during exhalation, the nurse should teach COPD patients this specific breathing technique.
What is pursed-lip breathing?
To prevent oral candidiasis (thrush), the nurse must instruct the patient to perform this action immediately after using a corticosteroid inhaler.
What is rinse the mouth/water gargle?
This life-threatening condition produces thick, pink, frothy sputum, indicating acute pulmonary edema.
What is acute pulmonary edema (or flash pulmonary edema)?
When a nurse assesses a patient and hears a low-pitched, coarse, rumbling sound like snoring (particularly on expiration), this intervention should be implemented to clear the airway.
What is a cough and deep breathe (or suctioning)?
Family members visiting a patient with a varicella infection must wear this level of PPE to avoid contracting or spreading the disease.
What are airborne precautions
Patients with chronic bronchitis are historically referred to by this clinical nickname, due to chronic hypoxemia, cyanosis, and polycythemia.
What is "Blue Bloater"?
This maintenance medication for severe asthma is known as a leukotriene modifier and works by blocking inflammatory chemicals.
What is Montelukast (Singulair)?
When a patient with emphysema experiences this sudden, sharp, pleuritic chest pain alongside decreased or absent breath sounds on one side, it strongly indicates this acute emergency.
What is a pneumothorax?
If a patient with a known tracheostomy suddenly has a low-pressure ventilator alarm sound, and the nurse is unsuccessful at identifying the disconnected tubing, this immediate bedside intervention must take place.
What is disconnect the patient and manually ventilate with an Ambu bag?
This severe bacterial infection, also known as "whooping cough," progresses from mild cold symptoms to violent, paroxysmal coughing fits followed by a high-pitched inspiratory sound.
What is Pertussis?
Having severe sleep apnea, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, or chronic lung conditions like COPD that cause a dangerous buildup of carbon dioxide (CO₂), creating a need for this home positive airway pressure device.
What is a home bi-pap (or C-pap)?
When administering this inhaled mucolytic medication to break down thick secretions, the nurse must warn the patient that it naturally smells like rotten eggs.
What is Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst)?
This late, life-threatening sign of a tension pneumothorax involves the physical shifting of the windpipe away from the affected lung side.
What is tracheal deviation?
For a patient presenting with a traumatic, open/sucking stab wound to the chest, the nurse's first action is to apply this specific type of dressing.
What is an occlusive dressing taped on three sides?