Final answer:
The correct nursing diagnosis is option C, as it includes both subjective and objective data indicating impaired breathing and gas exchange due to severe coughing and inflammation, and is substantiated by specific evidence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the provided nursing diagnoses, the correct statement is option C: Difficulty breathing related to severe coughing and inflammation of airways, as evidenced by (aeb) SaO2 88%, respirations 26 breaths/min, and the patient stating, "I can't breathe." This nursing diagnosis is deemed correct because it specifies the patient's objective data, including the saturation of peripheral oxygen (SaO2) and the respiratory rate, as well as the patient's subjective experience of difficulty breathing. In contrast, options A, B, and D lack the specificity of actual evidence (aeb), making C the most accurate and complete diagnosis.
COPD and pneumonia are conditions that impact gas exchange due to altered lung compliance and resistance. COPD leads to chronic poor airflow and, in the case of emphysema, a decrease in alveolar number and elasticity. Pneumonia involves fluid in the alveoli that inhibits gas exchange. Both conditions can cause symptomatology similar to that described in the nursing diagnosis presented in option C.