Author Question: A patient who is intubated is exhibiting rhonchi and has a pulse oximeter of 92, soft abdomen, heart ... (Read 94 times)

123654777 · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

A patient who is intubated is exhibiting rhonchi and has a pulse oximeter of 92, soft abdomen, heart rate of 88 bpm, and blood pressure of 98/54 mmHg. Which would be the nurse's first priority?

1. suction the patient
2. contact the physician
3. increase the oxygen
4. start dopamine

Question 2

A patient being mechanically ventilated has the following ventilator settings: SIMV 16, PEEP 20 cm of H2O, FiO2 45, tidal volume .450 liters. What concern should the nurse have for this patient?

1. barotrauma
2. volutrauma
3. sinusitis
4. oxygen toxicity

kkenney · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1
The presence of rhonchi suggests the patient needs to be suctioned. The other assessment data do not require contacting the physician or increasing the oxygen. The relative hypotension can be caused by the ventilation and does not require dopamine for blood pressure support.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 1
This patient is at risk for barotrauma due to the high PEEP levels. The tidal volume is within a standard setting. Sinusitis is a potential complication of ventilated patients, but this patient should not have a higher risk for this. The oxygen setting at 45 will not cause oxygen toxicity in this patient.