Respiratory System Assessment and Nursing Care

Flashcards covering respiratory assessment, oxygen delivery methods, chest tube care, thoracic surgery, acid-base balance, and common respiratory medications.

Natural lung decline

Occurs around the age of $35$ years old.

High Fowler's position

Position used to elevate the head of the bed to improve lung expansion and oxygen therapy implementation.

Respiratory Diagnostic Test Complications

Includes monitoring for pneumothorax, hemorrhage, infection, and dyspnea.

Risk factors for respiratory disorders

Includes smoking ($1$st, $2$nd, and $3$rd hand), environmental exposures (pollen, chemicals), infections, and genetic predispositions such as Cystic Fibrosis.

Mechanical Ventilation Care

Includes assessing ventilator settings and alarms Q$1$h, ensuring suctioning is set up, providing frequent oral care, and keeping the head of the bed at $30-45^\text{o}$ at all times.

Thoracentesis Position

The patient is positioned upright and leaning forward over a bedside table.

Nasal Cannula (NC)

A flexible tube with prongs in nostrils that delivers $24-44\%$ $F_iO_2$ at $1-6\,L/min$; allows for eating and talking.

Simple Face Mask

Covers the nose and mouth to deliver $28-50\%$ $O_2$ at $6-10\,L/min$ for short-term moderate-level oxygen needs.

Non-Rebreather Mask

Includes a reservoir bag with $1$-way valves delivering $60-80\%$ $O_2$ at $10-15\,L/min$ for high-concentration needs.

Venturi Mask

Delivers precise, controlled, and consistent $O_2$ percentages ($24-50\%$) via jet mixing; often used for COPD patients.

High Flow Nasal Cannula

Delivers heated, humidified air at high flow rates up to $60\,L/min$ for severe non-invasive support.

Chest Tube Drainage System

Must be maintained closed, functioning, and kept below chest level in an upright position.

Tidaling

Fluctuation in the water-seal chamber with respiration; no tidaling may indicate tube obstruction or full lung expansion.

Constant Bubbling

Indication of an air leakage in the chest tube system or insertion site.

Thoracic Surgery Pre-op Skin Care

Instruct the patient to use chlorhexidine soap $3$ days before surgery.

Thoracic Surgery Lifting Restriction

After surgery, patients should not lift more than $10\,lbs$ for $3-6$ weeks.

Normal pH range

Measurement of the concentration of hydrogen ($H^+$) ions in blood, with a normal range of $7.35-7.45$.

Respiratory Acidosis Compensation

The lungs increase breathing rate and depth (hyperventilation) to exhale more $CO_2$.

Respiratory Alkalosis Compensation

The lungs decrease breathing rate and depth (hypoventilation) to hold in more $CO_2$.

Metabolic Acidosis Compensation

Kidneys reabsorb more bicarb (base) to the blood and excrete more $H^+$ ions (acid) into the urine to help raise pH.

Bronchodilators

Medications that relax smooth muscles of airways to widen bronchi; examples include Albuterol (short-acting beta $2$ agonist) and Salmeterol (long-acting).

Anti-inflammatories

Medications that reduce swelling and inflammation in the respiratory tract; examples include Corticosteroids like Fluticasone, Budesonide, and Prednisone.