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Besides providing reassurance, what should nursing interventions for a client who is hyperventilating be focused on?

1 Administering oxygen
2 Using an incentive spirometer
3 Having the client breathe into a paper bag
4 Administering an IV containing bicarbonate ions

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Nursing interventions for hyperventilation should aim at stabilizing CO2 levels in the blood, with the primary action being to have the client breathe into a paper bag. Administering oxygen or bicarbonate is not indicated as it could worsen the situation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Nursing interventions for a client who is hyperventilating should be focused on helping the client regain control over their breathing and correct the resulting imbalance in blood gas levels - specifically, the abnormally low blood carbon dioxide levels that lead to a high (alkaline) blood pH, also known as hypocapnia. The most immediate and commonly known intervention in such scenarios is to have the client breathe into a paper bag. This practice recirculates exhaled carbon dioxide (CO2) back to the patient, which can help stabilize CO2 levels in the blood. Using an incentive spirometer could help the patient learn to control the depth of breathing, but it is not typically used to directly treat hyperventilation. Administering oxygen is usually not indicated in hyperventilation since oxygen levels are typically normal or high, and additional oxygen may worsen the hypocapnia. Administering an IV containing bicarbonate ions is a treatment for acidosis conditions; in the case of hyperventilation, the blood is already too alkaline, so this would be inappropriate.

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