Question

A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing an asthma attack. Which of the following procedures should the nurse use to assess the client's respiratory status?

A) Peak expiratory flow meter testing
B) Spirometry monitoring
C) Pulmonary functioning testing
D) Chest x-ray

Answer 1

To assess the client's respiratory status during an asthma attack, Spirometry monitoring is the suitable procedure. It measures the forced expiratory volume and the forced vital capacity, which help diagnose and monitor conditions like asthma.

Step-by-step explanation:

To assess the respiratory status of a client experiencing an asthma attack, the appropriate procedure would be B) Spirometry monitoring. Spirometry is a common and noninvasive test used to assess lung function. This test measures the quantity of air an individual can forcibly exhale from the lungs and the time it takes to do so, primarily through the Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV) and the Forced Vital Capacity (FVC).

For asthma patients, the FEV1/FVC ratio is specifically important. If the ratio is low, it indicates resistance in the lung pathways, which is characteristic of asthma, showing that the individual has trouble expelling air out of their lungs. This resistance suggests the presence of a narrowing of the airways, which is common in an asthma attack. The spirometry test is instrumental in diagnosing respiratory conditions and in evaluating the effectiveness of treatments for diseases like asthma, indicating whether the medications are improving the airway obstruction.