Question

The nurse has just admitted a client with emphysema. Arterial blood gas results indicate hypoxia. Which physician prescription would the nurse implement for the best improvement in the client's hypoxia?

Elevate the head of the bed 45°.
Encourage diaphragmatic breathing.
Initiate an Alupent nebulizer treatment.
Start O2 at 2L/min.

Answer 1

The most suitable physician prescription to improve a client's hypoxia is starting O2 at 2L/min, as it directly increases the oxygen saturation of the blood by providing an external source of oxygen, which is particularly helpful in conditions like emphysema where gas exchange in the alveoli is compromised.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best improvement in a client's hypoxia, an abnormally low level of oxygen in the blood, would likely be achieved by starting O2 at 2L/min. Supplemental oxygen will increase the partial pressure of oxygen, thereby increasing the rate of oxygen binding with hemoglobin in the lungs, which is described by the chemical reaction Hb(aq) + O₂(g) → HbO₂(aq). Because of the impaired gas exchange in the alveoli due to emphysema, introducing a higher concentration of oxygen will help ensure that more oxygen molecules are available to bind with hemoglobin and increase the oxygen saturation of the blood.

While other interventions such as elevating the head of the bed or encouraging diaphragmatic breathing may provide some benefit, they are less likely to have a quick impact on the hypoxia. Nebulizer treatments such as an Alupent nebulizer might help if bronchoconstriction is an issue, but it won't directly address the lack of oxygen in the blood. Since the goal is to improve the client's hypoxemia swiftly, starting oxygen therapy at a low flow rate, like 2L/min, is a common initial intervention in treating hypoxic patients with chronic lung conditions.