A home health nurse visits a client who has COPD and receives oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula. The client reports difficulty breathing.
Which of the following actions is the nurse’s priority?

A patient with a BMI of 38 is considered to have obesity, which means they have excess body fat that may impair their mobility and increase their risk of complications such as pressure ulcers, infections, and respiratory problems. A bariatric bed is designed to accommodate the weight and size of obese patients, and a trapeze bar can help them change positions and transfer to a chair or wheelchair.

These interventions can promote comfort, safety, and independence for the patient.

Choice A is wrong because hourly vital signs are not necessary for a patient with obesity unless they have other conditions that warrant frequent monitoring.

Choice B is wrong because implementing all fall risk precautions may be excessive and restrictive for a patient with obesity who is otherwise stable and alert.

Choice D is wrong because supine positioning can compromise the patient’s breathing and circulation, and increase the risk of pressure ulcers and aspiration.

The patient should be encouraged to change positions frequently and elevate the head of the bed when lying down.

This is the nurse’s priority because it will help determine the severity of the client’s difficulty breathing and guide the appropriate interventions. According to the Mayo Clinic, oxygen therapy for COPD is indicated when there is not enough oxygen in the blood, which can be measured by a pulse oximeter or a blood gas test. Increasing the oxygen flow without assessing the oxygen level could be harmful or ineffective. Having the client cough and expectorate secretions may help clear the airway, but it is not the first action to take. Calling emergency services may be necessary if the client’s condition is life threatening, but it should not be done before assessing the respiratory status.

Choice A is wrong because it does not address the immediate need of assessing the respiratory status and may cause unnecessary panic or delay in treatment.

Choice B is wrong because it does not follow the guidelines for oxygen therapy for COPD, which require a prescription and monitoring of oxygen levels.

Increasing the oxygen flow without assessing the oxygen level could cause oxygen toxicity or suppress the respiratory drive.

Choice C is wrong because it is not the most urgent action to take.

Having the client cough and expectorate secretions may help clear the airway, but it may also increase the work of breathing and worsen hypoxia.

Assessing the respiratory status should come first.

Normal ranges for oxygen saturation are 95% to 100% for healthy individuals and 88% to 92% for most people with COPD. Normal ranges for blood gas tests vary depending on the laboratory, but generally, normal values for arterial blood gas are: pH 7.35 to 7.45, PaCO2 35 to 45 mm Hg, PaO2 80 to 100 mm Hg, HCO3 22 to 26 mEq/L.