Questions and Answers
Respiratory - Patient 1
H&P
0630 (admission): 52-year-old client presents to ED after an acute onset of sharp chest
pain and SOB occurring shortly after awakening this morning. Reports feeling well until
this morning. Experienced dizziness and "feeling terrible" shortly after getting out of bed.
Spouse transported client to the ED. Upon arrival, blood pressure (BP) was 90/58
mmHg, and oxygen (O2) saturation was 82% on room air.
History: Lifetime resident of Ohio. Works as an accountant. COVID-19 (coronavirus) 6
months ago with no evidence of long-term deficits. Social drinker. Smokes two to three
cigarettes a week.
Nurse's Notes
0630 (admission): Client admitted to the emergency department (ED). Spouse reports
client looked pale and felt dizzy this morning. Client attributed symptoms to jet lag
following a recent (returned 2 days ago) business trip to Japan. Shortness of breath
(SOB). 6 liters O2/nasal cannula app - answer
The nurse reviews the assessment and clinical data in electronic health record.
Complete the diagram by dragging from the choices area to specify which condition the
client is most likely experiencing, two actions the nurse should take to address that
condition, and two parameters the nurse should monitor to assess the client's progress.
Actions to Take
Parameters to Monitor
Potential Conditions
Actions to Take
Parameters to Monitor
Actions to Take
antibiotics
chest tube
low-molecular-weight heparin
needle decompression
thrombolytic therapy
Potential Conditions
pleural effusion
pneumonia
pulmonary embolism
, tension pneumothorax
Parameters to Monitor
arterial blood gas
blood culture
chest tube drainage
D-dimer
electrolytes - answerPotential Condition:
Pulmonary embolism
Actions to take:
low-molecular-weight heparin
thrombolytic therapy
Parameters to monitor:
arterial blood gas
D-dimer
Rationale:
The client experienced a massive pulmonary embolism (PE), in which an embolus
lodges in the pulmonary vasculature. A massive PE manifests as systolic hypotension
(blood pressure [BP] < 90 mmHg). The client's risk factors include a recent lengthy flight
(Ohio to Japan), which resulted in long periods of time with limited mobility. Classic
presentation of PE includes sudden onset of pleuritic chest pain, shortness of breath,
and hypoxemia. Suspect a PE in any client who has respiratory distress that cannot be
explained by other diagnosis. A client with a PE may have numerous presenting signs
and symptoms, with the most common being tachycardia and tachypnea. Additional
signs and symptoms that may be present include dyspnea, apprehension, increased
pulmonic component of the second heart sound (P1), fever, crackles, pleuritic chest
pain, cough, evidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and hemoptysis. Syncope and
hemodynamic instability can occur as a result of right ventricular failure. A physical
finding that is present in about half of those with PE is an accentuated S2. For
hospitalized critically ill clients, anticoagulation therapy with heparin begins immediately
for the initial management of acute PE with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) or
intravenous (IV) unfractionated heparin (UFH). Use of thrombolytic medication is based
on severity of the PE, risk of bleeding, and prognosis. Thrombolytic therapy is indicated
for this client. The client's acute PE is accompanied by hypotension (systolic BP < 90
mmHg) in the absence of a high risk for bleeding. D-dimers are fibrin degradation
products or fragments produced during fibrinolysis. A positive tes
Respiratory - Patient 2
H&P
1000 (admission): 70-year-old client admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) with
acute, severe dyspnea while convalescing at an adult family home after a hospital
admission for community-acquired pneumonia 5 days ago. During transfer by