Case Study - Respiratory

The adult patient goes to the pulmonary clinic reporting a productive cough that "won't go away". She is a 60-year-old married housewife whose children are grown. She smoked two packs of cigarettes per day for 20 years, but she has not smoked for the past 10 years. She contracted a "virus" 4 weeks ago, which "settled in her chest". Her usual remedies have not resulted in improvement in her status.

Using the above scenario answer the following question with the Rationale for your answer.

1. What additional subjective data and objective data should the nurse elicit from this patient?

2. The physician orders a chest X-Ray and sputum specimen. What should the nurse tell this patient about these tests, why are they ordered?

3. How should the nurse document in the nursing note for this patient according to the data collected.

4. The physician order for the patient be schedule for a bronchoscopy. What teaching-learning plan will the nurse perform in order to prepare the patient for the Bronchoscopy exam?

5. What special actions must the nurse take after the procedure is completed and the patient is taken to the PACU (post anesthesia care unit)?