Your patient is a 65-year-old male with a history of COPD.He is sitting up and complaining of a severe shortness of breath.You should:

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The best choice is to apply a nonrebreather mask giving 15 lpm of oxygen. This is because the patient is experiencing severe shortness of breath and requires a high concentration of oxygen to improve breathing. The nonrebreather mask delivers a higher concentration of oxygen (up to 90%) than other methods such as nasal cannula or nasal airway ventilation. Suctioning the airway is not indicated unless there is a visible obstruction or excessive secretions present. Inserting a nasal airway and ventilating may be necessary if the patient's respiratory status deteriorates further, but the initial step should be to provide high-flow oxygen via a nonrebreather mask.

Your Patient Is a 65-Year-Old Male with a History of COPD.He