"Take My Breath Away" (Acute Respiratory Failure & ARDS)
This blood gas value is dangerously low in oxygenation failure
What is PaO₂ < 60 mmHg?
The most commonly fractured ribs
What are ribs 5-9?
The most common cause of a pulmonary embolism.
What is a blood clot (thrombus)?
This device provides continuous positive airway pressure for non-invasive
ventilation
What is a CPAP
A patient presents with sudden dyspnea, chest pain, and hemoptysis. The nurse
suspects this
What is a pulmonary embolism?
This inflammatory condition floods the alveoli and leads to stiff lungs
What is ARDS?
A condition where multiple rib fractures cause paradoxical chest movement.
What is flail chest?
A D-dimer test detects this in the blood.
What are fibrin degradation products?
The primary goal of oxygen therapy
What is to correct hypoxemia
A post-op patient’s SpO₂ drops to 80% despite oxygen therapy. This emergency
intervention is likely needed
What is intubation and mechanical ventilation
A sign of respiratory distress where the patient is only able to speak 2 words
before taking a breath
What is 2 word dyspnea?
This life-threatening condition shifts the mediastinum due to trapped air
What is tension pneumothorax?
This imaging test is the most commonly used and preferred method for
diagnosing a pulmonary embolism, requiring IV contrast to visualize blood flow in the
lungs
What is a spiral CT?
A term for positive pressure maintained at the end of expiration
What is PEEP (Positive End-Expiratory Pressure)
A trauma patient has a deviated trachea and absent breath sounds on one side. This
is the priority intervention
What is an emergency needle decompression?
The most common cause of ARDS
What is sepsis?
The emergency treatment for an open "sucking" chest wound.
What is a vent dressing?
The immediate first-line medication treatment for PE
What is anticoagulation (heparin or warfarin)
A mechanically ventilated patient develops fever, purulent sputum, crackles, and
an elevated WBC count. To reduce the risk of this complication, nurses should
implement this set of interventions
What is the VAP Bundle?
A ventilated patient suddenly develops subcutaneous emphysema and
hypotension. This complication is suspected.
What is barotrauma (from excessive PEEP)
This non-supine positioning strategy improves oxygenation in ARDS patients
What is the prone position?
While assessing a patient’s chest tube, the nurse notices continuous bubbling in
the water seal chamber. This indicates the presence of this complication.
What is an air leak?
A patient arrives at the ER with sudden-onset dyspnea, chest pain, and
tachycardia. The nurse also notes hypotension, altered mental status, and a sense of
impending doom. These findings suggest this life-threatening complication of a
pulmonary embolism
What is a obstructive shock
The recommended action when a ventilator alarm goes off
What is assess the patient first, then check the ventilator?
A patient on anticoagulants suddenly becomes confused with a tachycardia and
hypotension. The nurse suspects this
What is a shock