Final answer:
The proper term for difficulty in breathing that is relieved by sitting or standing in an upright position is orthopnea, which is the observed condition when a nurse elevates the head of the bed to ease a patient's respiratory symptoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a nurse observes respiratory distress and elevates the head of the bed to ease a patient's difficulty in breathing, this is typically in response to orthopnea. Orthopnea is difficulty in breathing that is relieved by sitting or standing in an upright position. It is often associated with heart failure but may be seen in other conditions as well. Tachypnea refers to an abnormally rapid rate of breathing, which can be observed when the body requires more oxygen, as in the case of exercise or specific lung diseases. On the other hand, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is a sudden, severe shortness of breath at night that awakens a person from sleep, often with a coughing and wheezing episode. Finally, bradypnea is an abnormally slow breathing rate.