Question

Case Study, Caring for Clients With Lower Respiratory Disorders

Sheila Paul, a 35-year-old advertising agent, is admitted to the hospital after a motor vehicle crash at 6 pm. She had abdominal surgery lasting several hours to repair damage to her bladder and bowel. She is now on the medical-surgical unit and fully awake. The LPN/LVN discovers the following about the client. Earlier today when she was at the advertising firm, she worked on a business presentation and did not take time to eat or drink anything all day. She sat at a desk for hours crossing her legs, trying to meet the demanding deadlines of her job. She also skipped breakfast because she had flown the red eye for 8 hours from a previous business presentation. During the drive to work from the airport, she chain-smoked cigarettes. She has smoked 2 packs per day for 17 years. The only medication she takes is her oral contraceptive. She is 5 foot 4 inches and weighs 185 lb. The client suddenly becomes anxious, short of breathe with blood tinged sputum, and has severe chest pain with inspiration. The vital signs are T, 100° F; BP, 88/50 mm Hg; HR, 110 beats/minute; RR, 32 breaths/minute. The LPN/LVN calls the rapid response team because the client may be having a pulmonary embolus.

(Learning Objective 6)

a. What are the client’s risk factors for developing a pulmonary embolus?

b. Once the client is stable, what instructions should the nurse provide the client to prevent future pulmonary emboli?

:

Answer 1

Answer:There are various risk factors that the client may develop a pulmonary embolus as:

• The client is obese
• The client smoke cigarettes. ( chain smoker)
• Intake of oral contraceptives.
• Poor eating habits.

The nurse should instruct the patient for the prevention as:

• Quit smoking
• Exercise
• Adopt healthy lifestyle
• Quit oral contraceptives.