University of Scranton

Nursing 380

Respiratory Nursing Care Study Guide

Mrs. Brown is a 65 year old widow who lives alone and has had repeated hospitalizations for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She used to smoke 3 packs of cigarettes per day beginning when she was 13. She stopped three years ago when she had to retire because of increasing dyspnea that prevented her from working as a seamstress in a dress factory. She has been admitted with pneumonia. The following questions relate to Mrs. Brown's nursing care.

1. What should be included in the initial respiratory assessment for Mrs. Brown?

2. What would you expect to find upon auscultation of her lungs?

3. Mrs. Brown is on a continuous infusion of theophylline at 8 ccs per hour. She is complaining of palpitations and this morning her blood theophylline level was 24. What would you do?

4. What should Mrs. Brown be taught about breathing exercises?

5. Why is it important for Mrs. Brown to be well hydrated?

6. What would you do regarding hydration if you found out that Mrs. Brown had been hospitalized previously for heart failure?

7. Mrs. Brown most likely will be discharged with oxygen therapy. What does she need to be taught about using oxygen at home?

8. What should Mrs. Brown know about using inhalers?

timing of inhalers?

sequence of inhalers?

Medical Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

9. What adjustments can Mrs. Brown make to her schedule to minimize the effects of activity intolerance?

COPD Survival Guide

10. What should the home health nurse ask Mrs. Brown to illicit information about dyspnea and activity intolerance?

11. Mrs. Brown has six young grandchildren. What should be taught to decrease the likelihood of contracting pneumonia again?

12. Mrs. Brown's blood gases show an increase in pCO2. What blood gas changes would be indicative of impending respiratory failure?

13. What dietary restrictions would be beneficial in preventing further increase in her pCO2 level?

14. What is an appropriate nutritional supplement for Mrs. Brown?

15. Mrs. Brown is going to be discharged on a sustained release preparation of theophylline. What side effects should she watch for?

16. What common antihypertensive or cardiac medication is contraindicated in persons with COPD and why?

17. Describe how an inhaler should be used.

18. Mrs. Brown doesn't feel like eating or drinking anything. She says she has no appetite and that fluids just fill her up. What should the nurse do?

19. What positions would be recommended to relieve dyspnea?

20. What are the best times of the day to do controlled coughing?

21. What should Mrs. Brown be taught about the respiratory equipment that she will use at home?

22. Mrs. Brown is to be discharged. What symptoms would be indicative of a need to return to her health care provider?

23. What would be the single most important thing that Mrs. Brown could do for her chronic obstructive lung disease?

Smoking Cessation Consumer Tools Kit

Respiratory Nursing Care Quiz (Nursing Care of Persons with Asthma)
Respiratory Nursing Care Quiz (Nursing Care of Persons with COPD)

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