You are caring for a 69-year-old male who is short of breath and in congestive heart failure. He is alert, anxious, and panicked with an open airway and rapid shallow respirations. His heart rate is tachycardic, and his skin is cool and diaphoretic with cyanosis noted to the lips and fingers. There are crackles noted to both lungs, as well as pedal edema to both feet. He denies chest pain or discomfort, but is having a difficult time speaking due to the shortness of breath. When caring for this patient, you should:

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The patient is presenting with signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure with respiratory distress. The best choice would be to apply Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) to improve oxygenation and reduce dyspnea. Administering aspirin is not indicated in this scenario. The shock position is indicated for patients in shock, which is not the case in this situation. Inserting a nasal airway may be helpful in some cases, but the patient is breathing spontaneously, and CPAP should be considered first.

You Are Caring for a 69-Year-Old Male Who Is Short