Gas Exchange

Question 1

What is pneumonia?

Answer 1

its a infection in the lungs causing debris, mucous and fluid to be trapped in the alveoli sacs leading to inflammation

Question 2

What are the causes of pneumonia?

Answer 2

-Can be caused by infectious organisms entering respiratory tract or can be health care acquired
-May also be caused by non-infectious things such as aspiration of flood, water, smoke or chemical fumes

Question 3

As a nurse what assessments do you perform on a patient with Pneumonia?

Answer 3

Assess:
-Sputum
-o2 saturation
-VS
-Cough
-Pleuritic pain
-use of assessory muscles
-Anxiety levels

Gather lab data such as:
-WBC counts,
-blood cultures for possible sepsis
-ABGs
-cytology

Imaging to look at lungs:
-chest xray
-CT scan

Question 4

What care plan should you consider for a patient with pneumonia?

Answer 4

-Enough oxygen exchange is the goal
-Give medication such as antibiotics to kill infection and symptom relief meds
-Give o2 therapy
-Prevent any airway obstruction
-Ventilate room to promote clean air
-Pain management
-Smoking cessation program if patient is a smoker
-Speech therapy if pneumonia is caused by aspiration

Question 5

What is asthma and its pathophysiology?

Answer 5

-Asthma is a inflammation of the airway causing bronchioles to fill with mucous causing constriction of smooth muscles leading to broncohospasms

Question 6

what are the signs and symptoms of asthma?

Answer 6

-Dyspnea
-Chest tightness
-Wheezes
-Coughing
-Hypoxia

Question 7

What care plan should you consider for a patient who has asthma?

Answer 7

-Provide oxygenation
-Maintain the patients airways
-Reduce frequency of exacerbations
-Medication adherence ( make sure pt is consistent with med)
-Prevent triggers
-Monitor peak flow
bronchodilators , corticosteroids, mu