While making rounds, the charge nurse notices that a young adult client with asthma who was admitted yesterday is sitting on the side of the bed and leaning over the bedside table. The client is currently receiving oxygen at 2 liters/minute via nasal cannula. The client is wheezing and is using pursed lip breathing. Which intervention should the nurse implement?
Explanation & Rationale
Choice A: Increasing oxygen to 6 liters/minute is not an intervention that the nurse should implement, as this can worsen bronchospasm and hypoxia by reducing the hypoxic drive and causing carbon dioxide retention. This is a contraindicated choice. Choice B: Calling for an Ambu resuscitation bag is not an intervention that the nurse should implement, as this is not indicated for a client who is conscious and breathing spontaneously. This is an overreaction choice. Choice C: Instructing the client to lie back in bed is not an intervention that the nurse should implement, as this can increase respiratory distress and compromise airway clearance by reducing lung expansion and increasing abdominal pressure. This is another contraindicated choice. Choice D: Administering a nebulizer treatment is an intervention that the nurse should implement, as this can deliver bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory agents directly to the airways and improve ventilation and oxygenation for this client. Therefore, this is the correct choice.