A patient tells the nurse that he feels increased shortness of breath. Which of the following can the nurse do to help this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Dyspnea is a subjective symptom and diagnostic testing should only be done to help assess the cause of the subjective feeling of shortness of breath. The use of oxygen via a face mask could cause the patient to feel suffocation and should not be used. Measuring the pulse oximetry might be done however would not be the first thing the nurse does at this time. The patient should not be assisted out of bed to ambulate if complaining of dyspnea.

A Patient Tells the Nurse That He Feels Increased Shortness