I CAN'T BREATHE

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I Can’t Breathe Scenario

Learning Aims for 1. To

identify the appropriate assessment, (recognizing the importance of the

patient’s self-report of dyspnea) and interventions when caring for a person

which COPD, chronic and in an acute exacerbation episode.

2.

Demonstrate clinical reasoning by recognizing the difference between stable and

acute/unstable dyspnea; the changes in vital signs, lung sounds and activity

tolerance that occurs, noticing the “normal range” of their oxygen saturation

and arterial blood gas values.

3.

Interpret the meaning of pulmonary function tests and arterial blood gases.

4.

Identify potential health teaching topics (based on the patient’s learning

needs) that support disease self-management strategies

5. To

appreciate the lived experience of the person living with a chronic lung

disease.

6.

Discuss therapies offered at hospital based respiratory rehabilitation programs

available in the community (i.e. Hamilton St. Joseph’s hospital; St. Mary’s and

Grand River hospitals)

Required

Readings

Registered

Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2010). Nursing

care of dyspnea: The 6th vital sign in individuals with chronic

obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Toronto, Ontario: RNAO Retrieved from

http://rnao.ca/sites/rnao-ca/files/Nursing_Care_of_Dyspnea_-The_6th_Vital_Sign_in_Individuals_with_Chronic_Obstructive_Pulmonary_Disease.pdf

Cicutto, L.,

& Hutchinson, S.W. (2014). Nursing management: Obstructive pulmonary

diseases. In S. L. Lewis, M. M. Heitkemper, S. R. Dirksen, L. Bucher, P. G.

O’Brien, M. A. Barry, S. Goldsworthy, & D. Goodridge (Eds.), Medical-surgical nursing in Canada: Assessment

and management of clinical problems (3rd Canadian ed., pp.

709-753). Toronto, ON:

Elsevier.