Question

A patient has a respiratory rate of 24 breaths/minute and is having shortness of breath. What should the nurse do first?

A) Administer 100% oxygen.

B) Obtain an oxygen saturation level.

C) Inform the primary health-care provider of the patient's status.

D) Elevate the head of the patient's bed to a 60-degree angle.

Answer 1

The first action a nurse should take for a patient with shortness of breath and a high respiratory rate is to obtain an oxygen saturation level to assess the patient's oxygenation status.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient is experiencing shortness of breath with a respiratory rate of 24 breaths per minute, the first action a nurse should take is B) Obtain an oxygen saturation level. This initial step is crucial because it provides valuable information about the patient's oxygenation status, which can guide subsequent interventions. It is important not to administer interventions such as 100% oxygen without first assessing the oxygen saturation, as it could potentially harm the patient if not indicated or delivered appropriately. Elevating the head of the bed and informing the primary health-care provider are also important steps, but they can be performed after ensuring the patient's oxygenation status is stabilized and understood through measurement with a pulse oximeter.