Question

A patient who is orally intubated and receiving mechanical ventilation is anxious and is "fighting" the ventilator. Which action should the nurse take next?

a. Verbally coach the patient to breathe with the ventilator.
b. Sedate the patient with the ordered PRN lorazepam (Ativan).
c. Manually ventilate the patient with a bag-valve-mask device.
d. Increase the rate for the ordered propofol (Diprivan) infusion.

Answer 1

In this situation, the nurse should verbally coach the patient to breathe with the ventilator.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this situation, the nurse should consider verbally coaching the patient to breathe with the ventilator. Patients who are orally intubated and receiving mechanical ventilation may become anxious and try to fight the ventilator. By providing verbal coaching and reassurance, the nurse can help the patient synchronize their breathing with the ventilator, reducing anxiety and promoting better oxygenation.