Pneumonia

Mid complexity — Respiration

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Goals

  1. Recognise respiratory insufficiency in COVID-19 and apply nursing interventions accordingly.
  2. Recognise and describe the compensatory mechanisms in respiratory insufficiency.
  3. Apply isolation measures in COVID-19.

Anamnese

  • Name: Mr van Dalen
  • Age: 71 years
  • Family: Single
  • Occupation: Retired teacher
  • Cultural: Not known

AMPLE

  • A.Unknown
  • M.Unknown
  • P.Type II diabetes - hypertension - bronchiectasis - CABG 2x bypass
  • L.Unknown
  • E.Increasing dyspnoea

SBAR

  • S.Mr van Dalen has been admitted with confirmed COVID-19. He has been feeling flu-like for a week and has been admitted for two days with fever and shortness of breath.
  • B.Mr van Dalen is a 71-year-old man with a history of type II diabetes, hypertension, bronchiectasis and CABG 2x bypass.
  • A.See ABCDE
  • R.Please assess the patient using ABCDE and apply interventions where necessary.

Situation at the start of scenario

  • A.Clear, alert. Clearly breathless.
  • B.RR 25 breaths/min, symmetrical thoracic excursions, increased work of breathing, using accessory breathing muscles, normal jugular veins, rhonchi over all lung fields, saturation 91%.
  • C.Greyish colour, CRT 2 sec, HR 115 bpm regular, normal regular pulse, peripherally lukewarm and clammy, BP 118/58 mmHg.
  • D.Alert on AVPU, glucose 7.4, pupils PEARL.
  • E.Temp 38.4°C, no oedema or other abnormalities. Urine output: spontaneous 300 ml 4 hours ago.

Situation at the end of scenario

  • A.Clear, alert. Increasingly breathless and exhausted.
  • B.RR 35 breaths/min, symmetrical thoracic excursions, increased work of breathing, using accessory breathing muscles, normal jugular veins, rhonchi over all lung fields, saturation 80%.
  • C.Greyish colour, flushed cheeks, CRT 3 sec, HR 115 bpm regular, normal regular pulse, peripherally lukewarm and clammy, BP 100/48 mmHg.
  • D.Alert on AVPU, glucose 8.1 mmol/l, pupils PEARL.
  • E.Temp 39.1°C, no oedema or other abnormalities.

Recommendations

  • Chest X-ray
  • Blood cultures