A patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), who smokes two packs of cigarettes daily and is hospitalized due to a respiratory infection, reports difficulty managing respiratory distress at home when using the rescue inhaler.
Which statement from the patient suggests to the nurse that the inhaler is not being used correctly?

Step 1: Observe breathing patterns. Respiratory depression is a critical symptom of myxedema coma that requires immediate attention.

Step 2: Measure body temperature. Hypothermia is a common symptom of myxedema coma and can provide important information about the severity of the patient’s condition.

Step 3: Assess blood pressure. Hypotension can occur in myxedema coma and can indicate the severity of the patient’s condition.

Step 4: Palpate for pedal edema. While this can be a symptom of hypothyroidism, it is not typically a primary concern in a patient showing signs of myxedema coma.

Choice A rationale

Phobia is characterized by an excessive and irrational fear response. In this case, the patient’s symptoms do not indicate a specific fear, but rather general distress and intrusive thoughts related to a traumatic event.

Choice B rationale

The patient’s symptoms, which include distressing thoughts and memories of the house collapsing, difficulty sleeping, and a significant change in mood, are indicative of acute stress disorder related to traumatic stress exposure. Acute stress disorder can occur within a month of experiencing a traumatic event, like a natural disaster.

Choice C rationale

Hallucinations involve perceiving something that is not present. The patient’s symptoms do not include any indications of hallucinations.

Choice D rationale

Separation anxiety involves excessive fear or anxiety about separation from those to whom the individual is attached. The patient’s symptoms do not indicate a fear of separation, but rather distress related to a traumatic event.