Question

You are assessing a​ 45-year-old woman who was in severe respiratory distress. She has not responded to two bronchodilator​ treatments, she has an altered mental​ status, and her head is bobbing. What should you do NEXT for this​ patient?

A. Ask her to​ self-administer another bronchodilator treatment.
B. Sit her​ up, and reassess her vital signs.
C. Place her on the CPAP.
D. Begin assisting her ventilations.

Answer 1

The appropriate next step in managing the 45-year-old woman with severe respiratory distress who has not improved with bronchodilator treatment is to begin assisting her ventilations, acknowledging the need for immediate intervention to stabilize her breathing.

Step-by-step explanation:

You are assessing a 45-year-old woman who is in severe respiratory distress. Since she has not responded to two bronchodilator treatments, has an altered mental status, and her head is bobbing, the next appropriate step would be D. Begin assisting her ventilations.

Given the patient's serious condition, it is crucial to stabilize her breathing. In situations where the patient is showing signs of severe respiratory compromise and previous treatments have not been effective, assisted ventilation becomes necessary to ensure adequate oxygenation and to prevent further deterioration of the patient's condition. Furthermore, the use of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may be considered if the patient is able to breathe spontaneously, albeit with difficulty, and needs assistance to keep their airway open and improve oxygenation.