Respiratory: 9 Nursing Care Plans
Airway, breathing and gas exchange care plans. Every plan below follows the ADPIE format — assessment cues, priority nursing diagnoses, measurable goals, interventions with rationales and patient teaching.
Quick answer
Respiratory care plans cover 9 conditions, most commonly diagnosed with impaired gas exchange, ineffective airway clearance, risk for infection, anxiety. Use each plan for clinical paperwork, ATI and NCLEX-style review, and bedside prioritization.
Most common nursing diagnoses in respiratory
All respiratory nursing care plans
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Nursing Care Plan
Severe hypoxemia with stiff lungs; ventilator support, prone positioning and sedation care.
Nursing diagnoses: Impaired gas exchange, Ineffective breathing pattern, Risk for infection
5 intervention sets · 6 goals · 7 teaching points
Read the care planAsthma Nursing Care Plan
Reversible airway obstruction; trigger control, inhaler teaching and exacerbation management.
Nursing diagnoses: Ineffective airway clearance, Impaired gas exchange, Anxiety
5 intervention sets · 6 goals · 8 teaching points
Read the care planCOPD (Emphysema & Chronic Bronchitis) Nursing Care Plan
Chronic airflow limitation; pursed-lip breathing, controlled oxygen and energy conservation.
Nursing diagnoses: Impaired gas exchange, Ineffective airway clearance, Activity intolerance, Imbalanced nutrition
5 intervention sets · 6 goals · 8 teaching points
Read the care planIneffective Airway Clearance Nursing Care Plan
Inability to clear secretions; positioning, hydration, coughing and suction techniques.
Nursing diagnoses: Ineffective airway clearance, Impaired gas exchange, Risk for aspiration
5 intervention sets · 6 goals · 7 teaching points
Read the care planMechanical Ventilation Nursing Care Plan
Ventilated patient care: VAP prevention, sedation goals, suctioning and weaning readiness.
Nursing diagnoses: Impaired spontaneous ventilation, Risk for infection, Impaired verbal communication
5 intervention sets · 6 goals · 6 teaching points
Read the care planPneumonia Nursing Care Plan
Lung infection; antibiotics, airway clearance, hydration and oxygenation.
Nursing diagnoses: Ineffective airway clearance, Impaired gas exchange, Hyperthermia
5 intervention sets · 6 goals · 8 teaching points
Read the care planPneumothorax & Chest Tube Care Nursing Care Plan
Air in the pleural space; drainage system monitoring and lung re-expansion.
Nursing diagnoses: Impaired gas exchange, Acute pain, Risk for injury
5 intervention sets · 6 goals · 6 teaching points
Read the care planPulmonary Embolism Nursing Care Plan
Clot in the pulmonary vasculature; oxygen, anticoagulation and hemodynamic monitoring.
Nursing diagnoses: Impaired gas exchange, Ineffective tissue perfusion, Anxiety
7 intervention sets · 5 goals · 8 teaching points
Read the care planTracheostomy Care Nursing Care Plan
Stoma and tube management, suctioning, humidification and emergency preparedness.
Nursing diagnoses: Ineffective airway clearance, Impaired verbal communication, Risk for infection
5 intervention sets · 6 goals · 7 teaching points
Read the care planNursing priorities across these plans
- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Optimize oxygenation while minimizing ventilator-induced lung injury.
- Asthma: Restore airway patency and adequate oxygenation during an acute attack.
- COPD (Emphysema & Chronic Bronchitis): Improve gas exchange and relieve hypoxemia safely.
- Ineffective Airway Clearance: Maintain a patent airway and adequate oxygenation.
- Mechanical Ventilation: Maintain a secure, correctly positioned airway and adequate gas exchange.
- Pneumonia: Improve oxygenation and gas exchange.
- Pneumothorax & Chest Tube Care: Recognize and immediately treat tension pneumothorax.
- Pulmonary Embolism: Recognize sudden unexplained dyspnea, hypoxemia or tachycardia as possible PE and escalate immediately.
Exams that test this content
Common questions
What are the most common nursing diagnoses in Respiratory care plans?
The nursing diagnoses that repeat most often across our 9 respiratory care plans are: Impaired gas exchange; Ineffective airway clearance; Risk for infection; Anxiety; Impaired verbal communication; Activity intolerance.
Which respiratory nursing care plans should a student know?
Start with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Asthma, COPD (Emphysema & Chronic Bronchitis), Ineffective Airway Clearance, Mechanical Ventilation, Pneumonia, Pneumothorax & Chest Tube Care, Pulmonary Embolism. Each plan lists assessment cues, priority diagnoses, measurable goals, interventions with rationales and patient teaching.
How many respiratory care plans are in this library?
9 care plans, all free to read and written in the ADPIE format used in nursing school and on ATI and NCLEX-style questions.