The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with pneumonia.The patient has a BP 160/94,P 102,R 28,crackles in posterior lower lobes bilaterally,oxygen saturation 89%,and complains of shortness of breath upon exertion.The highest priority nursing diagnosis for this patient is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

While all nursing diagnoses may apply to this patient,Impaired gas exchange is the highest priority because this is the underlying problem for the other nursing diagnoses,as well as physiologically the highest priority.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient Diagnosed with Pneumonia