A patient with severe chronic lung disease is hospitalized in respiratory distress.When monitoring the patient,which nursing assessment will be of most concern?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A decrease in respiratory rate from 30 breaths/min to 10 breaths/min is a sign of respiratory failure and is the most concerning assessment finding. This indicates that the patient is not ventilating adequately and requires urgent intervention. Bibasilar lung crackles and sitting in the tripod position are common in patients with chronic lung disease and may not necessarily indicate an acute deterioration. An oxygen saturation of 91% is low but can be managed with supplemental oxygen therapy.

A Patient with Severe Chronic Lung Disease Is Hospitalized in Respiratory