Question

A 51-year-old female presents with a sudden onset of difficulty breathing. She is conscious and alert and able to speak in complete sentences. Her respirations are 22 breaths per minute and regular. You should:

A. Perform a secondary assessment and then begin treatment.
B. Assist her ventilations with a bag valve mask.
C. Insert a nasal airway in case her mental status decreases.
D. Administer oxygen via a non-rebreathing mask.

Answer 1

Administer oxygen via a non-rebreathing mask to a 51-year-old female with difficulty breathing and a respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute, who is alert and can speak in full sentences, then perform a secondary assessment to identify the cause.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks what should be done for a 51-year-old female presenting with sudden onset of difficulty breathing. Given that her respiratory rate is 22 breaths per minute and she is able to speak in complete sentences, the appropriate response is to assist her with oxygenation without over-ventilating, as she is not in immediate distress and her respiratory rate is only slightly elevated from the normal adult rate of 12-18 breaths per minute. The best option presented would be to administer oxygen via a non-rebreathing mask to increase her oxygen levels and ensure that she does not develop hypoxemia. Preparing for further assistance if her condition worsens, such as inserting a nasal airway, should be considered secondary as her mental status is currently stable. A full secondary assessment would follow to determine the cause of her symptoms.