Question

The nurse is orienting a new RN in the care of a patient with respiratory distress due to emphysema. The patient is being treated with O2 via a Venturi mask with 35% oxygen. Which statement by the new RN indicates that teaching has been effective, when the nurse questions the new RN about the use of the Venturi mask?

a. "A nasal cannula will dry the mucous membranes and cause an increased risk of infection."
b. "Her alveoli cannot absorb higher levels of O2 because of the emphysema."
c. "Her alveoli have been damaged and may rupture with higher doses of O2."
d. "Her respiratory center requires low O2 concentration to stimulate breathing."

Answer 1

Answer: The correct answer to the question is option D

Her respiratory center requires low O2 concentration to stimulate breathing.

Step-by-step explanation:

Emphysema is a COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) which means some of the air sacs (aveoli)are old/damaged and so not enough to trap oxygen to be taken round the body thus resulting to hypoxemia.

In patients with COPD, the respiratory center is stimulated by hypoxemia(decreased blood oxygen level) not increased levels of carbon dioxide. Administration of oxygen in high levels will impair the respiratory center so it is better to administer in small quantity.