The patient is being admitted to the emergency department with reports of shortness of breath. The patient has had chronic lung disease for many years but still smokes. What will the nurse do?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Oxygen must be used cautiously in these types of patients. Hypoxemia helps to control ventilation in patients with chronic lung disease. Because low levels of arterial O₂ provide the stimulus that allows a patient to breathe, administration of high oxygen levels may be fatal for patients with chronic lung disease. Patients with chronic lung disease have ongoing hypercarbia (elevated CO₂ levels) and do not need to have CO₂ administered or "rebreathed" with a paper bag.

The Patient Is Being Admitted to the Emergency Department with Reports