Question

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1. Collaborate with the interprofessional team to coordinate high quality care and promote gas exchangein critically ill patients with respiratory problems.
2. Teach the patient and caregiver(s) about how decreased gas exchangeand impaired perfusionaffect home safety.
3. Prioritize evidence-based care for critically ill patients with respiratory problems that decrease gas exchange.
4. Identify community resources for patients requiring assistance with long-term complications of severe respiratory problems.
5. Teach adults how to decrease the risk for severe respiratory damage or disease.

Answer 1

Depending on the severity of illness (respiratory problems)the care may vary from oxygen administration through a face mask ,CPAP support or full ventilator support through endotracheal tube.Continuous monitoring of the patient is very much important especially SPO2.Arterial blood gas analysis is also helps to know the concentrationof oxygen in blood.The rate or amount of oxygen given to the patient can be regulated(adjusted) according to these results.The team members are mainly icu team members( doctors and nurses),respiratory therapist and pharmacist.

Teach the patient as well as family members the factors that can affect to impaired gas exchange like altered oxygen supply,anemia,certain respiratory diseases(COPD,asthma) etc.Alveolar capillary membrane changes also affect gas exchange.Teach them the complications of severe respiratory distress and the measures to be taken to overcome that.At home they can follow certain measures to decrease the severity of distress like sitting forward,diaphragmatic breathing,pursed lip breathing etc.If patient is a smoker or alcoholic ,then ask them to stop that.Advice them to avoid allergic prone climate and substances.

Proper positioning ,chest physiotherapy,suctioning and weaning according to ABG report and patients condition(in case of ventilator support).These are the measures to improve gas exchange.

Community services including COPD foundation,pulmonary rehabilitation programmes,self mamagement programmes,home care for patients with respiratory disorders are helpfulto patients.Especially for COPD pts there are resources like American lung association,Family care giver allianceNational heart lung and blood institute etc.

Methods to avoid respiratory damage

-Avoid exposure to people who have flu or viral infections

-stop smoking and alcoholism

-Eat healthy and exercise regularly to maintain healthy weight

-Avoid air pollution

-practice deep breathing exercise and spirometry exercises.