Respiratory Care and Nursing Interventions Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering respiratory assessments, nursing interventions for oxygenation, artificial airways, and chest tube management.

Peak flow

The amount of air that can be exhaled with force; used to diagnose COPD and asthma and determine medication dosage.

Chest X-ray

A diagnostic tool used to visualize lung fields where air appears dark in lobes.

Tuberculin Skin Test

A test to determine a reaction to the presence of tuberculin bacillus in skin layers, where a raised area at the injection site indicates a positive result.

Turn, cough, deep breathe

A nursing intervention where immobile or post-surgery patients are repositioned every $2\,\text{hours}$ to remove secretions and maintain cough effectiveness.

Cascade coughing

A technique where the patient takes a slow deep breath, holds for $2\,\text{seconds}$, then coughs numerous times throughout exhalation while contracting expiratory muscles.

Huff Cough

A technique used to clear central airways by saying the word "huff" during exhalation to open the glottis and stimulate a natural cough.

Quad Cough

A technique for patients without abdominal muscle control where the nurse or client pushes inward and upward on abdominal muscles during maximal expiratory effort.

Incentive spirometer

A device used to help patients improve their lung function through breathing exercises.

Nebulizer treatments

The use of compressed air or liquid medication to release particles into the lungs to improve breathing.

Pharyngeal airways

Devices that prevent obstruction of the trachea by displacement of the tongue into the oropharynx.

Oropharyngeal airway

An oral airway that extends from the teeth to the oropharynx to keep the tongue in its normal position.

Nasopharyngeal airway

Also known as a "nasal trumpet," it is made of pliable rubber and inserted through the nose into the pharynx.

Endotracheal tubes

Firm but flexible plastic tubes designed to enter the trachea for patients who cannot breathe independently; used for short-term care for approximately $7\text{--}10\,\text{days}$.

Tracheostomy

A long-lasting artificial airway that allows easy access to deep trachea suctioning and allows humidity to be supplied to the airway.

Pneumothorax

A condition where air is present in the pleural space, requiring the insertion of a chest tube.

Hemothorax

A condition where blood and drainage are present in the pleural space, requiring the insertion of a chest tube.

Chamber 1 (Wet suction)

The chamber on the left of a chest drainage system where suction is controlled by sterile water, typically filled to the $20\,\text{cm}$ line.

Chamber 2 (Water seal)

A chamber in the chest drainage system that establishes negative pressure and prevents air from entering the cavity; it typically utilizes a $2\,\text{cm}$ seal.

Tidaling

The movement of water level in a chest drainage system that rises as the patient inhales and falls as they exhale, stopping only when the lung is reinflated.

Chamber 3 (Collection tube)

The chamber on the right of the chest drainage system where blood and fluids from the pleural cavity are trapped and measured.

CPAP

Continuous positive airway pressure, which provides steady, continuous pressure and is beneficial for sleep apnea.

BPAP

Bi-level positive airway pressure, which provides assistance during inspiration and prevents airway closure during expiration using two levels of pressure.

IPAP

Inspiratory positive airway pressure.