A patient with asthma has a personal best peak expiratory flow ...

[dalyningkenk]

A patient with asthma has a personal best peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) of 400 L/minute. When explaining the asthma action plan, the nurse will teach the patient that a change in therapy is needed when the PEFR is less than ___ L/minute
 
  Fill in the blank with the appropriate word.

Question 2

The nurse receives a change-of-shift report on the following patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Which patient should the nurse assess first?
 
  a. A patient with loud expiratory wheezes
  b. A patient with a respiratory rate of 38/minute
  c. A patient who has a cough productive of thick, green mucus
  d. A patient with jugular venous distention and peripheral edema

[kilada]

Answer to Question 1

ANS:
320
A PEFR less than 80 of the personal best indicates that the patient is in the yellow zone where changes in therapy are needed to prevent progression of the airway narrowing.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
A respiratory rate of 38/minute indicates severe respiratory distress, and the patient needs immediate assessment and intervention to prevent possible respiratory arrest. The other patients also need assessment as soon as possible, but they do not need to be assessed as urgently as the tachypneic patient.