Question

A nurse is caring for a patient who is short of breath. The degree of shortness of breath can be assessed by which of the following? a. Ability to speak b. Breath sounds c. Capnography d. Nailbed color

   A nurse is caring for a patient who is short of breath. The degree of shortness of breath can be assessed by which of the following?
a. Ability to speak
b. Breath sounds
c. Capnography
d. Nailbed color

Medical-Surgical Nursing: Concepts & Practice

Susan C. deWit,… 3rd Edition

Chapter 12, Problem 3

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It is important to assess the severity of the symptom to determine the appropriate intervention. a. Ability to speak: This is a useful assessment tool as it can indicate the degree of shortness of breath. If the patient is able to speak in full sentences without Show more…

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A nurse is caring for a patient who is short of breath. The degree of shortness of breath can be assessed by which of the following? a. Ability to speak b. Breath sounds c. Capnography d. Nailbed color

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Key Concepts

Respiratory Assessment

Respiratory assessment is a systematic evaluation of a patient’s breathing status, involving both subjective and objective measures. This includes techniques such as observation of breathing patterns, inspection of chest movement, auscultation to detect abnormal breath sounds, and noting any physical signs like cyanosis. It is a critical component in identifying the severity of conditions that compromise oxygenation and ventilation.

Evaluation of Dyspnea via Speech Patterns

Evaluating dyspnea using speech patterns is a practical method whereby the patient’s ability to speak in full sentences is observed. Difficulty in speaking full sentences can serve as an immediate indicator that the patient’s respiratory system is compromised, making it a useful tool in rapidly assessing the degree of shortness of breath in a clinical setting.

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