Upper Respiratory
Rhinitis & Epistaxis
Define, causes, treatment
Rhinitis: inflammation of the nasal lining, causing sneezing, congestion, runny nose, and itching in the nose, throat, or eyes. Avoiding triggers, antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays, immunotherapy
Epistaxis- nosebleed (trauma, dry air, allergy, sinusitis, blood thinners, structural). Pinch nose and lean FORWARD
Atelectasis
Define? Nursing interventions?
Partial or complete collapse of alveoli, causing breathing difficulties and reduced oxygenation
Re-expanding collapsed alveoli and clearing secretions through proactive measures, including early ambulation, frequent turning, deep breathing exercises, incentive spirometry, hydration, pain control
URI
Definition? Nursing care?
Upper respiratory infection (URI)- common illness, affecting the nose, throat, sinuses, or larynx. Usually viral. Symptoms- runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, and coughing, typically lasting one to two weeks
Nursing: supportive care- hydration, relieving symptoms with OTC meds
Chronic venous insufficiency
Define? Symptoms? Causes? Nursing Intervention
Damaged leg veins struggle to send blood back to the heart, causing blood to pool (venous stasis)
Leg pain, swelling, heaviness, varicose veins, and skin changes, worse with long periods of standing or sitting.
Common causes: deep vein thrombosis, obesity, pregnancy, and inactivity
Compression stockings, exercise, leg elevation
Asthma
Define? Nursing interventions?
Chronic, non-curable, inflammatory lung disease causing wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. Caused by genetics & environmental factors.
Maintaining a patent airway, improving oxygenation, administering medications (bronchodilators, steroids), educating on trigger avoidance, positioning (high fowlers, tripod), proper inhaler/spacer use
Tonsilitis and adenoiditis
Define? Causes? Symptoms? Treatment?
Often co-occur, kids/teens most common
Tonsillitis: inflamed tonsils- throat pain, swollen/red tonsils with white/yellow spots, difficulty swallowing.
Adenoiditis: infected adenoids- nasal congestion/runny nose, mouth breathing, snoring, bad breath, sore throat, ear issues
Causes: bacterial (strep common), viral
Treatment: rest, fluids, and antibiotics (if bacterial), Chronic cases- tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy
Pleural Effusion
Define? Treatment? Nursing interventions?
abnormal buildup of excess fluid between the thin membranes (pleura) lining the lungs and chest cavity
Thoracentesis, chest tube, medications (diuretics, antibiotics)
Improving oxygenation, reducing respiratory distress, and assisting with fluid removal: HOB High Fowler's, O2, monitoring for respiratory failure, incentive spirometry, managing chest tubes, prepping for thoracentesis.
1) Respiratory Meds: Explain LABA vs SABA
2) Bronchodilators are always combined with _____ to treat asthma. Why?
SABA: short-acting beta-agonist- albuterol asthma attack
LABA: long-acting beta-agonists
Inhaled corticosteriods. LABA alone does not treat the underlying inflammation and increases the risk of asthma-related deaths (if not combined with coricosteriods
Medications: Advair, Symbicort, Dulera
Difference between arterial emboli & thrombosis
Arterial thrombosis occurs when a clot forms directly within an artery, often from plaque rupture.
Embolism is a clot that travels from elsewhere (commonly the heart) to block an artery
COPD- a mixture of both _____ and chronic_____ in different proportions. Name and describe those conditions. Is it reversible? List a nursing intervention
Emphysema- damages air sacs (alveoli), loose elasticity, collapse, difficult to exchange blood
Chronic bronchitis- inflammation & mucous
No, the lung damage is permanent and cannot be reversed.
Optimizing breathing, improving oxygenation, and preventing infections: pursed-lip and diaphragmatic breathing, promoting smoking cessation, administering bronchodilators, encouraging hydration to thin mucus, small frequent meals
Laryngeal obstruction
Define? Triggers?
ILO Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction aka Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD)
Narrowing or closure of the airway at the voice box. Sudden breathing difficulties, stridor (high-pitch noise), and throat tightness (can feel like choking).
Possible triggers:
Exercised induced (EILO)
Irritant induced: smoke, perfume, cold air
Asthma, GERD, anxiety, URI
Bronchiectasis
Define? Nursing interventions?
Chronic, progressive lung disease where airways become permanently widened and scarred, causing mucus buildup, chronic cough, and frequent infections. Caused by infections, injuries, or underlying conditions like cystic fibrosis, resulting in symptoms such as heavy phlegm, shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain
Airway clearance to remove mucus, preventing infections, implementing postural drainage/percussion, administering bronchodilators, smoking cessation, reducing exacerbations through patient education.
Describe adventitious lung sounds
Crackles (Rales): Discontinuous, brief, clicking, or rattling sounds often described as "popping" or like pulling apart Velcro.
Wheezes: Continuous, high-pitched, musical whistling sounds caused by air flowing through narrowed or obstructed airways, mostly heard during expiration (e.g., in asthma or COPD).
Rhonchi: Low-pitched, snoring, or rattling sounds that occur when air passes through thick secretions in large airways.
Stridor: A loud, high-pitched, harsh sound heard on inspiration, typically indicating upper airway obstruction (e.g., croup, foreign body).
Pleural Rubs: Creaking, grating, or rubbing sounds, similar to walking on fresh snow, caused by inflamed pleural surfaces rubbing together
lymphatic disorders
Define? Treatments?
Affect the vessels, nodes, and organs of the lymphatic system, typically causing swelling (lymphedema), infections, or cancer.
Treatments often involve managing swelling through compression and addressing underlying infections with antibiotics
Cystic fibrosis
Define? Nursing intervenetions
progressive genetic disorder causing thick, sticky mucus that clogs lungs, damages the pancreas, and causes severe digestive and respiratory issues. Inherited (both parents) caused by a mutated CFTR gene. chronic coughing, wheezing, frequent lung infections, salty-tasting skin, and poor growth/weight gain.
Clearing thick, sticky mucus from airways, improving nutrition, preventing infections, and providing psychosocial support: bronchodilators, mucoactive agents, antibiotics, chest physiotherapy (CPT), airway clearance techniques, high-calorie, high-fat diets w/pancreatic enzyme, infection control
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) Define? Risk Factors? Treatment?
Common disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Muscles in the back of the throat relax, causing soft tissue to collapse and block the airway
Excess weight (neck circumference), smoking, alcohol use, or structural issues (large tonsils, narrow airway), male gender, older age, family history
Tx: 1) CPAP, 2) Oral Appliances: Devices that hold the jaw forward, 3) Lifestyle Changes: Weight loss, avoiding alcohol before bed, and sleeping on your side. 4)Surgery
Acute tracheobronchitis
Define? Nursing interventions?
Self-limiting inflammation of the trachea and bronchi usually caused by viruses. It produces a persistent cough (often with mucus), wheezing, and fever lasting 1–3 weeks. (Bronchitis extending up the trachea)
improving airway clearance, enhancing oxygenation, providing symptomatic relief through hydration and medication management (bronchodilators, antitussives), encouraging rest, promoting hydration to thin secretions, smoking cessation
Describe 3 respiratory diagnostics
Peripheral vascular assessment
Peripheral vascular diagnostics
Peripheral vascular assessment evaluates blood flow, skin integrity, and vessel function in the extremities to detect arterial or venous diseases.
Inspecting for skin color changes (pallor, cyanosis), temperature, hair loss, and ulcers, alongside palpating pulses.
Doppler ultrasound, and capillary refill assessment, edema checks.
Tuberculosis: How can we test for latent TB and TB disease? What is the difference between the two?
Latent TB lives but does not grow in the body. It does not make a person feel sick. It is NOT contagious, however it could advance to TB disease.
TB disease is an active infection & grows in the body. It IS contagious. Can lead to death if not treated.
Testing- Skin PPD (either), blood test (either), Chest x-ray (active TB disease only)
Peritonsillar abscess Define?
Symptoms? Treatment?
Pus-filled infection near the tonsils, usually a complication of untreated tonsillitis
Severe, one-sided throat pain, fever, muffled voice, drooling, and difficulty opening the mouth (trismus)
Trismus (inability to open the mouth) occurs in almost all cases due to inflammation of the pterygoid muscles
Treatment involves urgent drainage, antibiotics, and hydration
Pneumonia
Define? Name at least 3 causes? 3 symptoms?
Infection that inflames the air sacs (alveoli) in one or both lungs, causing them to fill with fluid or pus.
Symptoms: SOB, cough, fever, chest pain, fatigue
Bacterial, Viral, Fungal, Parasitic, Atypical, Aspiration, Community-Acquired, Hospital-Acquired, Ventilator-Associated pneumonia
Symptoms: SOB, cough, fever, chest pain, fatigue
Nursing respiratory assessment includes:
Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, and Auscultation
RIPPAS Framework: Rate, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Saturation
Peripheral vascular disease
Define? Risks factors? Symptoms?
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) involves reduced blood flow to limbs due to plaque buildup (atherosclerosis- common cause)- affects arteries and veins outside the heart/brain, commonly in the legs
Smoking, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, hypertension, and sedentary lifestyle.
Symptoms: Leg pain/cramping, numbness, coldness, or wounds that do not heal
Occupational lung diseases
Define? Name two?
Preventable respiratory conditions caused by breathing in harmful dusts, fumes, gases, or chemicals at work.
- Pneumoconiosis (silicosis, asbestosis)
- Coal worker's pneumoconiosis or black lung disease
- Occupational asthma
- COPD caused by long-term exposure to toxins
- Byssinosis or brown lung disease (textile factory- hemp,flax, cotton)