Reference no: EM134023822

Question

B.T. is an 82-year-old man who is admitted to the medical-surgical unit from home to be prepped for a left knee replacement later today. The patient is currently alert to time, person, and place. His initial admission vital signs were 98.9°, Pulse 92, Respirations 22, Blood pressure 140/82, and SaO2 90% on room air. He has a significant pulmonary history. He worked in coal mines for 42 years and smokes cigarettes every day. He calls you into his room and states that he cannot seem to catch his breath. He is now dyspneic, respirations at 34/min. In addition, he states he has been coughing up "yellow stuff with some brown in it" for the past 3-4 days. What components of his assessment are most important for you to perform first? Would you need to notify the health care provider (HCP)? If so, what do you anticipate as orders given? What are diagnostic tests that could help you to identify this potential complication? What are possible nursing diagnoses for him at this point? (State two or three.) Which of these diagnoses would be the priority at this point in his care? Why? After reviewing the possible nursing diagnoses.