Altered Respiratory Function

Altered Respiratory Function

cough – voluntary / involuntary (⁎ codeine is addictive & ↓ respirations)

sputum – thick, tenacious, infective (wear gloves) can have odor

shortness of breath (SOB) dyspnea – humidified O₂ helps

chest pain – Does it fluctuate with breathing? = lung pain

Accessory muscle use – neck veins stand out – fatiguing

Barrel chest – work hard to breathe, chronic COPD – less capable of expanding / contracting

Cyanosis – bluish circumoral cyanosis

Clubbing – fingers rounded, fingernails with ↓perfusion

Hemoptysis – cough up blood

Altered Respiratory Function – impact on ADL

become dyspneic with simple tasks

eating is difficult if you have to take time to breathe, you don't have enough energy

"Pulmocare" -liquid supplement for people when it is difficult to chew / breathe

dressing

bathing

mobility

helpful to breathe in nose, out mouth (relaxing)

Assessment – subjective data – What is normal?

cough

sputum

How far can they walk before needing to rest? - a mile? block? one flight of stairs?

Assessment – subjective – What risk factors do they possess?

snoring

occupational hazards

Do they have a new pet?

How many "pack-years" have they smoked?

Assessment – objective data – inspection

color (circumoral cyanosis)

in people of color check mucous membranes – Are they pink?

observe rate & pattern of breathing

Are they using accessory muscles to breathe? Are they barrel-chested?

Assessment – objective data

palpation

percussion

auscultation – listening to breath sounds with stethescope