Assignment: shortness of breath, productive cough

Assignment: shortness of breath, productive cough

S.R. is a 65- year-old woman who presents to the emergency department complaining of shortness of breath, productive cough, and swelling in both legs.

Case Study:

S.R. is a 65- year-old woman who presents to the emergency department complaining of shortness of breath, productive cough, and swelling in both legs. The patient has a past medical history of congestive heart failure (CHF), hypertension, and diabetes. Vital signs are: T 97.5, P 85, R 16, and BP 160/90. Physical exam reveals +2 edema bilateral lower extremities, heart rate and rhythm regular, lungs with rhonchi in the bases. The patient is started on a nebulizer treatment, and an electrocardiogram has been ordered.
1. What subjective information should the nurse obtain?
2. The nurse is assessing the patient’s pulses. Which locations should the nurse check?
3. The nurse needs to evaluate the adequacy of the collateral circulation before obtaining an arterial blood gas (ABG) sample. How should the nurse proceed?
4. What is the most likely cause of this patients shortness of breath, productive cough, and swelling of both legs?

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Case Study:

S.R. is a 65- year-old woman who presents to the emergency department complaining of shortness of breath, productive cough, and swelling in both legs. The patient has a past medical history of congestive heart failure (CHF), hypertension, and diabetes. Vital signs are: T 97.5, P 85, R 16, and BP 160/90. Physical exam reveals +2 edema bilateral lower extremities, heart rate and rhythm regular, lungs with rhonchi in the bases. The patient is started on a nebulizer treatment, and an electrocardiogram has been ordered.
1. What subjective information should the nurse obtain?
2. The nurse is assessing the patient’s pulses. Which locations should the nurse check?
3. The nurse needs to evaluate the adequacy of the collateral circulation before obtaining an arterial blood gas (ABG) sample. How should the nurse proceed?
4. What is the most likely cause of this patients shortness of breath, productive cough, and swelling of both legs?

Expert Answer

What subjective information should the nurse obtain? Rest, family and history of heart ailments. Also about blood pressure and diabetes, impulse to urinate amid the night. The nurse is assessing the patient’s pulses. Which locations should the nurse … Assignment: shortness of breath, productive cough