Oxygenation Flashcards
Tachypnea
Rapid shallow respiratory rate/breathing 
Hyperpnea
Rapid respiratory rate with increased depth
Bradypnea
Slow respiratory rate
Orthopnea
Discomfort when breathing while laying down
Hyperventilation
Increased rate or depth of respirations causing an alveolar ventilation that is above the body’s normal metabolic requirements
Hypoventilation
Decreased rate or depth of respiration causing alveolar ventilation that is less than the body’s requirements
Perfusion
+ usually referring to rate at which blood is delivered to tissues
+ Passage of fluid through the circulatory system to an organ or tissue
Respiration
Inhalation and exhalation – primarily to take up oxygen to deliver through pulmonary capillaries
Ventilation
Process of moving air in and out of lungs
Describe bullet points of oxygen
+21% of normal air
+ tasteless, odorless, colorless gas
+ considered a medication – must be ordered by HCP
Clinical application and significance of oxygen
+ Must be ordered by an HCP + in situations with a clear clinical indication such as decreasing oxygen saturation, tachypnea, emergency, the absence of a prescription should not delay the administration of oxygen to the patient
What is hypoxia
Inadequate amount of oxygen available to cells – low levels of oxygen in body tissues
What is “air hunger” + causes
+ Caused by low levels of oxygen in air or by disease
+ Caused by COPD, emphysema, asthma, anemia, CHF, pneumonia, bronchitis, pneumothorax, PE, sleep apnea
+ ANY condition that reduces amount of oxygen in your blood or restricts blood flow - ie. High altitude
Regional and generalized affects of hypoxia
+ Hypoxia causes blood vessels in the pulmonary circulation to go under marked vasoconstriction
+ Regional – one area of the lungs directs blood flow away from the hypoxic area
+ Generalized – causes vasoconstriction throughout the lungs
Early symptoms of hypoxia – most common
+ Tachycardia + irritable + restless + tachypnea + dyspnea + labored breathing + cool, clammy
+ ABGs 60-80
+ headache
+ agitation
+ confusion
+ BP: systolic increases diastolic decreases
+ Pulse increases, bounding, pressure widening
+ respirations rapid
Late signs and symptoms of hypoxia
+ Bradycardia + increasing dyspnea and tachypnea, possible bradypnea or agonal breathing
+ ABG is less than 60
+ Cyanosis + brain swelling + seizures + lethargy + nasal flaring
+ Using accessory muscles
Nursing interventions for breathing and oxygenation issues
+ ASSESS – quality of breath, using accessory muscles, skin color
+ raise head of bed, sit them up
+ check oxygen orders
+ SBAR HCP
How to assess cough
+ Productive/non-productive
+ effective/ineffective
+ needs assistance
+ description – raspy, dry, barking, painful, seductive, absent cough reflex
How to assess sputum/phlegm
Color, character, amount, odor
How to assess dyspnea
+ Difficulty breathing ➡️ subjective to patient
+ Feeling short of breath during ADLs
+ perception of difficulty breathing and reaction to that sensation
+ Note: LOC, RR, nasal flaring, accessories muscle usage
Hemoptysis - definition
Blood in lungs + bright red usually + blood and sputum
How to assess hemoptysis
+ Bloody sputum, usually bright red
+ note source – forceful cough
+ presence of TB, cancer, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis
How to assess cyanosis
+ + blue or gray color to skin + Note LOC
+ heart or lung disease presence
+ inadequate respiration
+ check earlobes, lips, mucous membranes, nail beds, palms of hands and feet
3 adventitious breath sounds
 Crackles, wheezes, rhonchi
