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Respiratory system

Nursing actions
Before the procedure
Explain the procedure to the client.
Withhold food and fluids for 8 hours.
Make sure that written, informed consent
has been obtained.
After the procedure
Monitor and record vital signs and pulse
oximetry.
Assess respiratory status (checking for
signs of pneumothorax, air embolism, hemoptysis, and hemorrhage).
Check the incision site for bleeding.

Taking a pulse
Pulse oximetry is a noninvasive test that
measures oxygen saturation of hemoglobin
with a laser device. The device is applied
to the finger, ear, bridge of the nose, or
forehead.

Nursing actions
Explain the procedure to the client.
Monitor readings intermittently or
continuously.

nitrogen, creatinine, protein, albumin, osmolality, and alpha1-antitrypsin.

Nursing actions
Explain the procedure to the client.
Withhold food and fluids before the
procedure, as directed.
Check the site for bleeding after the
procedure.

Analyzing blood, part B

A hematologic study uses a blood sample to
analyze red blood cell (RBC) and white blood
cell (WBC) counts, prothrombin time (PT),
international normalized ratio (INR), partial
thromboplastin time (PTT), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), platelet count, hemoglobin (Hb) level, and hematocrit (HCT).

Nursing actions
Explain the procedure to the client.
Note current drug therapy before the
procedure.
Check the venipuncture site for bleeding
after the procedure.

Taking a snooze
A sleep study test is performed in a sleep
laboratory and monitors the clients body
while he sleeps. Its commonly used to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea.

Nursing actions
Explain the procedure to the client.
Tell the client what supplies to bring from
home, such as pajamas.
Instruct the client to limit his intake of caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol on the day of the test.
Clients with
ARDS should be kept
in a prone position.

Analyzing blood, part A

A blood chemistry test assesses a blood
sample for potassium, sodium, calcium,
phosphorus, glucose, bicarbonate, blood urea

Polish up on client care

Major respiratory disorders include acute
respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute
respiratory failure, asbestosis, asphyxia,
asthma, atelectasis, bronchiectasis, chronic
bronchitis, cor pulmonale, emphysema,
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), lung
cancer, pleural effusion and empyema,
pleurisy, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
(PCP), pneumonia, pneumothorax and
hemothorax, pulmonary edema, pulmonary
embolism, respiratory acidosis, respiratory
alkalosis, sarcoidosis, severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS), and tuberculosis.

Acute respiratory distress

syndrome
In ARDS, fluid builds up in the lungs and
causes them to stiffen. This impairs breathing,
thereby reducing the amount of O2 in the capillaries that supply the lungs. When severe,

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