RESPIRATORY ASSESSMENT

Using the guidelines in Wilson & Giddens ' Ch. 11 and videos, perform a respiratory assessment process on a patient or a significant other. Write up your findings following the guidelines and post them here. It is important for nurses in all practice settings to be able to perform a basic respiratory assessment. This includes taking a pertinent patient history and using the techniques of inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. Immediately upon meeting a patient I am looking to see if they are able to ambulate without signs or symptoms of respiratory distress and I find out if they have had a recent breathing treatment that is working to temporarily relieve their condition – it is important to keep in mind that they may deteriorate faster than originally anticipated. Important questions for respiratory assessment include: past and current medical problems- do they have a diagnosis of asthma, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, or lung cancer? Were they recently diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection, bronchitis, or pneumonia? Do they currently have a cough- strong or weak, for how long, and is it productive or non- productive? If there is sputum production- what is the color and consistency? Has there been any hemoptysis? Is there any wheezing or increased shortness of breath with exertion- from talking and/ or walking? Have they experienced any chest pain? If yes I ask about strength, location, duration, is it reproducible? Is it relieved by anything or made worse by anything? I ask if they have experienced any night sweats or if they have noted any swelling in their upper or lower extremities. I find out about their smoking habits- do they smoke currently? If they say they have quit then I ask when and how many packs per a day for how many years did they smoke prior to quitting? Also, I like to find out if they are around second hand smoke. Do they use drugs- especially ones that are inhaled. What do they have for

References: Dossey B M Keegan L 2013 Holistic nursing a handbook for practiceDossey, B., & Keegan, L. (2013). Holistic nursing a handbook for practice (6 ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.  Dugas, E., Tremblay, M., Low, N., Cournoyer, D., O’Loughlin, J. (2010) Water-pipe smoking among North American youths. Pediatrics.125(6):1184-9. Lowell, D. (2012) Is hookah Smoking Safer Than Smoking Cigarettes? Mayo Clinic Expert Answers. Retrieved 10/02/2013 from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hookah/AN01265 Wilson, S., & Giddens, J. (2013). Health assessment for nursing practice (5 ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby