Question

The client who has emphysema and recently experienced a stroke receives a prescription for a metered-dose inhaler with a spacer device. The client asks the nurse if using the spacer is necessary. What information should the nurse provide?

Answer 1

Spacers are crucial for aiding medication delivery into the lungs, particularly for emphysema patients or those who have suffered a stroke. Spirometry tests diagnose respiratory diseases and monitor treatment effectiveness by assessing lung function.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should explain that using a spacer with a metered-dose inhaler is essential, especially for patients with conditions like emphysema who may have weakened or compromised inhalation strength due to their lung condition. A spacer helps to ensure that the medication is delivered deeply into the lungs and allows the patient more time to inhale the medication, which can be particularly beneficial after a patient has experienced a stroke where their ability to coordinate breathing and actuation of the inhaler may be affected. The use of spirometry test results is critical in diagnosing respiratory diseases by measuring the volume and speed of air that can be inhaled and exhaled, and in determining the effectiveness of treatments such as inhalers by monitoring improvements in lung function over time.