Question

Your patient is a 55-year-old female with a history of emphysema and congestive heart failure. As you assess her, you notice that she is cyanotic and has severely labored respirations. In between her broken sentences she states that she has a prescribed inhaler. You should:

A) Begin ventilatory assistance and contact medical control
B) Adminster the medication and obtain a set of vital signs
C) Apply a nonrebreather mask and administer her inhaler
D) Ask the patient when she last used her prescribed inhaler

Answer 1

Apply a nonrebreather mask and administer the inhaler to the patient.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the patient's history of emphysema and congestive heart failure, her symptoms of cyanosis and labored respirations are concerning. The correct course of action would be to apply a nonrebreather mask to provide her with high-flow oxygen and administer her prescribed inhaler. By starting with the nonrebreather mask, we can address her immediate need for oxygen while also allowing her to use her inhaler to manage her respiratory distress.