Question

A nurse is teaching a home care patient how to do pursed-lip breathing. What is the therapeutic effect of this procedure?

a) Replacing the use of incentive spirometry
b) Reducing the need for PRN medications
c) Using upper chest muscles more effectively
d) Prolonging expiration to reduce airway resistance

Answer 1

Pursed-lip breathing helps to prolong expiration, reduce airway resistance, and decrease the work of breathing, thus can potentially reduce the need for PRN medications.

Step-by-step explanation:

The therapeutic effect of pursed-lip breathing is to prolong expiration to reduce airway resistance. Pursed-lip breathing is a technique used to make each breath more effective by prolonging the expiration phase, which can help keep airways open longer. This can be especially beneficial in conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), where air can become trapped in the lungs due to narrowed airways. By reducing airway resistance, pursed-lip breathing can help to decrease the work of breathing and prevent airway collapse, making it easier for the patient to breathe and possibly reducing the need for medications that are used on an as-needed (PRN) basis.