A patient in respiratory distress is admitted to the medical unit at the hospital. During the initial assessment of the patient, the nurse should

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a patient has severe respiratory distress, only information pertinent to the current episode is obtained, and a more thorough assessment is deferred until later. Obtaining a comprehensive health history or full physical examination is unnecessary until the acute distress has resolved. A focused physical assessment should be done rapidly to help determine the cause of the distress and suggest treatment. Although family members may know about the patient's history of medical problems, the patient is the best informant for these data.

A Patient in Respiratory Distress Is Admitted to the Medical