PULMONARY DISORDERS

PULMONARY DISORDERS Laterria Hickson, MSN, RN, CNL Patho Recap Upper Respiratory Tract: Nose, Paranasal Sinuses, Pharynx, Tonsils, Adenoids, Larynx, and Trachea Lower Respiratory Tract: Lungs (Pleura, Mediastinum, Bronchi, Bronchioles, Alveoli) Respiratory Functions: • Oxygen Transport • Respiration • Ventilation • Gas Exchange Health History • Onset • Location • Duration • Character • Aggravating & Alleviating factors • Radiation • Timing of presenting problem • Associated signs and symptoms Health History Past medical, social, and family history How are patient’s quality of life, including Activities of Daily living (ADL) impacted? Is the patient a current smoker? Have they quit and when Expressed in pack years: The number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day x the number of years the patient has smoked Exposure to secondhand smoke? Smoking- the single most important contributor to respiratory illnesses Respiratory Assessment Was onset sudden or gradual? What time of day or night does it occur? Is it worse when lying flat? Does it accompany sudden chest pain? Severity of dyspnea on a scale of 0-10 Common Symptoms