Exhibits

The nurse begins client education and asks the client what potential asthma triggers may have been involved in her recent exacerbation.

For each statement click to specify if the client has an understanding or no understanding of asthma triggers. Each row must have one option selected.

Rationale

A. Continuing with the tracheostomy care procedure while a code blue is ongoing for another client is not appropriate. A code blue takes precedence as it indicates a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate response.

B. Closing the room door is not a priority action during a code blue. The immediate focus should be on responding to the emergency and providing assistance as needed.

C. If additional help is needed to assist with the tracheostomy care procedure, calling for an assistant could be appropriate under normal circumstances. However, during a code blue, the primary responsibility is to respond to the emergency immediately.

D. A code blue indicates a cardiac or respiratory arrest, which requires immediate intervention. As a nurse, responding to the code blue involves providing assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), fetching emergency equipment, and supporting the healthcare team in resuscitative efforts.

A. Assessing temperature is important to monitor for any signs of infection or inflammation, which could exacerbate the asthma condition or indicate a concurrent illness.
B. Evaluating breath sounds helps determine the effectiveness of the albuterol treatment in relieving bronchospasm. Clearer breath sounds suggest improved air entry and reduced wheezing.
C. While CBC can provide valuable information, it is not typically immediately necessary after an albuterol treatment unless there are specific concerns about infection or other systemic issues.
D. Monitoring the heart rate is crucial as albuterol can cause tachycardia (elevated heart rate) as a side effect. It's important to ensure that the heart rate does not become excessively elevated, which may indicate a need to adjust treatment or monitor more closely.
E. Peak inspiratory flow is less commonly used in asthma management compared to peak expiratory flow. It's the maximum flow rate during inhalation and is not typically assessed routinely in the immediate post-treatment period.
F. Assessing serum sodium is not directly related to monitoring asthma exacerbation or response to bronchodilator therapy.
G. PEF measures the maximum speed at which a person can exhale air after a deep breath. It is a direct indicator of lung function and the severity of airway obstruction in asthma. Assessing PEF post-albuterol treatment helps gauge how well the airways have responded to the bronchodilator therapy.
H. Checking oxygen saturation ensures that the patient's oxygen levels have improved following the administration of albuterol. The goal is to maintain oxygen saturation above 94%, as per the treatment plan.