What the pH?
Just Breathe

COPD or Bust
Something in the Air

Red Flags
100

A patient with opioid overdose is breathing 6 times per minute.

ABG:

pH 7.28
PaCO₂ 58
HCO₃ 24

What condition is causing this ABG?

What is Respiratory Acidosis from hypoventilation?

100

This rapid-acting bronchodilator is the "rescue" medication of choice for acute asthma attacks.

What is Albuterol?

100

This "blue bloater" phenotype is characterized by a chronic productive cough and cyanosis.

What is chronic bronchitis?

100

This is the required isolation precaution for a patient with active tuberculosis.

What is airborne precautions (negative pressure room/N95)?

100

High-pitched sound heard mostly during inspiration from upper airway obstruction.

Stridor

200

pH: 7.30
CO₂: 55
HCO₃: 24

What is respiratory acidosis (Uncompensated)
200

This is the priority action if a chest tube becomes disconnected from the drainage system.

Submerge the end in sterile water.

200

The most common arterial blood gas (ABG) result seen in chronic COPD patients.

What is respiratory acidosis?

200

A client with pneumonia is experiencing pleuritic pain; the nurse knows this pain is caused by

What is friction between the pleural layers?

200

A child with inspiratory stridor, barking cough, and respiratory distress is most likely experiencing this upper airway condition.

What is Croup

300

A patient presents with panic attack and rapid breathing.

ABG:

pH 7.50
PaCO₂ 30
HCO₃ 24

What condition is causing this ABG?

What is Hyperventilation causing Respiratory Alkalosis?

300

This is the most accurate method for verifying correct endotracheal (ET) tube placement.

What is a chest X-ray 
300

This breathing technique helps COPD patients improve gas exchange, exhalation and reduce trapped air.

What is pursed-lip breathing?

300

This intervention, rather than medication, is the most effective in preventing pneumonia in a post-operative patient.

What is an incentive spirometer (or deep breathing/coughing)?

300

This condition is characterized by sudden tracheal deviation, absence of breath sounds, and a medical emergency.

What is a tension pneumothorax 

400

A COPD patient has:

pH: 7.36
CO₂: 60
HCO₃: 33

What is Compensated Respiratory Acidosis?

400

This medication reduces airway inflammation and is used for long-term asthma control.

What are Corticosteroids?

Example: Prednisone, Fluticasone

400

A COPD patient sits leaning forward with arms on a table to improve breathing. This is known as this position.

What is tripoding 

400

This is the earliest, most subtle sign of decreased oxygenation in a client.

What is unexplained restlessness?

400

This life-threatening infection causes rapid swelling of the epiglottis and airway obstruction.

What is Epiglottitis?

500

A patient with COPD receives high concentrations of oxygen and becomes increasingly lethargic with rising CO₂ levels. This occurs because COPD patients rely partly on this stimulus to breathe.

What is Hypoxic Drive?

500

This diagnostic test uses a needle inserted into the pleural space to remove excess fluid or air.

Thoracentesis.

500

In COPD, air trapping occurs primarily during this phase of breathing.

What is Expiration?

500

This inhaled medication blocks vagal tone and prevents bronchoconstriction.

What is Ipratropium

500

This severe complication of pneumonia causes diffuse alveolar damage, severe hypoxia, and stiff lungs.

What is ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome)?