Reference no: EM133907414

Question

F.T. is a 70-year-old African American man who comes to the emergency department complaining of increased shortness of breath. He states that he started using his albuterol inhaler every 4 hours a few days ago, but it does not seem to be helping. He has been having trouble sleeping or doing any activity because of the shortness of breath. Physical Exam Findings: Temp 100.4 F, apical pulse 110, BP 170/90, O2 saturation 87% on room air. Patient sitting on edge of bed with arms resting on bedside table. Skin color normal for race with no signs of cyanosis. Slight use of accessory muscles in neck and shoulders noted. Trachea midline. Chest expansion equal. Prolonged expiration. No clubbing noted. Lungs: fine crackles at bilateral apices, diminished breath sounds to bilateral bases with coarse crackles. Slight expiratory wheeze heard throughout all lung fields. F.T. has a productive cough with yellow-tinged sputum.

1. What are the possible causes of F.T.'s shortness of breath?

2. Does F.T. require urgent admission to the hospital of is his condition stable and he can be seen by the health care provider in a few hours?

3. What physical assessment findings are of most concern to you?

4. What would 3 priority nursing diagnoses and interventions be for F.T.?