Question

When determining the severity of a patient with pneumonia, medical assessment of a pet airway, the nurse understands that which question indicates a priority for the care plan?

a) How often does the patient experience shortness of breath?
b) What medications has the patient previously taken for pneumonia?
c) Has the patient traveled recently to areas with high pollution?
d) Is the patient experiencing fever or chills?

Answer 1

The priority question for establishing a care plan for a patient with pneumonia is to know how often they experience shortness of breath, as this reveals the current state of their respiratory function.

Step-by-step explanation:

When assessing the severity of a patient with pneumonia, the priority question for the care plan is a) How often does the patient experience shortness of breath?

This is critical as shortness of breath indicates a compromised airway and may reflect the degree of obstruction or inflammation in the lungs, affecting the ability to maintain adequate oxygenation. Pneumonia is characterized by inflammation and fluid-filled alveoli, which impair gas exchange, and shortness of breath is a key symptom of this exchange being compromised. Careful monitoring and intervention for respiratory distress are vital in pneumonia management to prevent hypoxemia and subsequent complications.

Other questions, such as the patient's medication history, recent travel to polluted areas, or presence of fever or chills, while important, do not directly indicate the current respiratory status. The main focus must be on the patient's breathing, as pneumonia can be life-threatening if not managed properly. Therefore, quantifying the frequency and severity of shortness of breath is the most immediate concern.