Case Study, Chapter 23, Management of Patients With Chest and Lower Respiratory Tract Disorders
1. Harry Smith, 70 years of age, is a male patient who is admitted to the medical-surgical unit with acute community-acquired pneumonia. He was diagnosed with paraseptal emphysema 3 years ago. The patient smoked cigarettes one pack per day for 55 years and quit 3 years ago. The patient has a history of hypertension, and diabetes controlled with oral diabetic agents. The patient presents with confusion as to time and place. The family stated that this is a new change for the patient. The admission vital signs are as follows: blood pressure, 90/50 mm Hg; heart rate, 101 bpm; respiratory rate, 28 breaths/min; and temperature, 101.5°F. The pulse oximeter on room air is 85%. The CBC is as follows: WBC, 12,500; platelets, 350,000; HCT, 30%; and Hgb, 10 g/dL. ABGs on room air are: pH, 7.30; PaO2, 55; PaCO2, 50; and HCO3, 25. Chest x-ray results reveal right lower lobe consolidation, presence of apical bullae, flattened diaphragm, and a small pleural effusion in the right lower lobe. Lung auscultation reveals severely diminished breath sounds in the right lower lobe and absence of breath sounds at the base. The breath sounds in the rest of the lungs are slightly decreased. The patient complains of fatigue and shortness of breath and cannot finish a short sentence before the respiratory rate increases above the baseline and his nail beds and lips turn a bluish tinge and the pulse oximetry decreases to 82%. The patient is diaphoretic and is using accessory muscles. The patient coughs weakly, but he does not raise any sputum. (Learning Objective 3)
a. What nursing assessment findings support the diagnosis of pneumonia?
b. What diagnostic findings support the diagnosis of pneumonia?
c. What nursing diagnoses should the nurse formulate for the patient?
d. What goals should the nurse develop for the patient?
e. What overall interventions should the nurse provide?
2. Marie Perez, a 53-year-old patient, is day 1 after a gastric bypass. She complains of shortness of breath; her respiratory rate is 30 breaths/min, heart rate is 110 bpm, pulse oximetry 89% on room air, temperature is 100°F, and her blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg. She complains of feeling anxious and having stabbing chest pain which gets worse with inspiration. She complains that she feels like she is going to pass out or possibly die.
(Learning Objective 7)
a. What could possibly be going on with the patient and what measures should the nurse provide immediately?
b. What risk factors does the patient have for a pulmonary embolus?
c. What measures are appropriate to manage a pulmonary embolism?
d. What measures are appropriate to help the patient in this case study prevent the reoccurrence of a pulmonary embolism?
Management of Patients With Chest and Lower Respiratory Tract Disorders, Case Study, Chapter 23
1. Harry Smith, 70 years old, is a male patient with acute community-acquired pneumonia who is admitted to the medical-surgical unit. Three years ago, he was diagnosed with paraseptal emphysema. The patient smoked one pack of cigarettes every day for 55 years until quitting three years ago. The patient has a history of hypertension and diabetes that has been managed with oral diabetic medications. The patient is confused about the time and place. This is a fresh change for the sufferer, according to his family. The following are the vital indicators at the time of admission: 90/50 mm Hg blood pressure; 101 bpm heart rate; 28 breaths/min respiratory rate; and 101.5°F temperature
