Which nursing action for a patient with chronic obstructive ...

[jlmhmf]

Which nursing action for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) could the nurse delegate to experienced unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
 
  a. Obtain oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry.
  b. Monitor for increased oxygen need with exercise.
  c. Teach the patient about safe use of oxygen at home.
  d. Adjust oxygen to keep saturation in prescribed parameters.

Question 2

The nurse in the emergency department receives arterial blood gas results for four recently admitted patients with obstructive pulmonary disease. Which patient will require the most rapid action by the nurse?
 
  a. 22-year-old with ABG results: pH 7.28, PaCO2 60 mm Hg, and PaO2 58 mm Hg
  b. 34-year-old with ABG results: pH 7.48, PaCO2 30 mm Hg, and PaO2 65 mm Hg
  c. 45-year-old with ABG results: pH 7.34, PaCO2 33 mm Hg, and PaO2 80 mm Hg
  d. 65-year-old with ABG results: pH 7.31, PaCO2 58 mm Hg, and PaO2 64 mm Hg

[TDubDCFL]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
UAP can obtain oxygen saturation (after being trained and evaluated in the skill). The other actions require more education and a scope of practice that licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/LVNs) or registered nurses (RNs) would have.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
The pH, PaCO2, and PaO2 indicate that the patient has severe uncompensated respiratory acidosis and hypoxemia. Rapid action will be required to prevent increasing hypoxemia and correct the acidosis. The other patients also should be assessed as quickly as possible but do not require interventions as quickly as the 22-year-old.

[jlmhmf]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it

[FergA]

Excellent