Question

A male client with cirrhosis has ascites and reports feeling short of breath. The client is in semi Fowler position with his arms at his side. What action should the nurse implement?

Answer 1

The nurse should raise the client's upper body to a high Fowler position and use pillows to elevate the arms, reducing abdominal pressure and aiding respiration for the client with cirrhosis and ascites.

Step-by-step explanation:

A male client with cirrhosis and ascites who is experiencing shortness of breath can benefit from positional changes to improve his breathing. The semi-Fowler position he is currently in is good, but he could potentially find more relief by raising his upper body even more. This position helps to decrease the pressure the ascitic fluid exerts on the diaphragm, thereby improving lung expansion and oxygenation.

The nurse should assist the client in shifting his upper body to a higher angle, ideally to a high Fowler's position if tolerated. In addition, the nurse could support the patient's ability to breathe more comfortably by encouraging him to place his arms on pillows on his lap or on an overbed table to elevate the chest and reduce the abdominal pressure even further.