In: Nursing
A 66-year-old male with a history of COPD is admitted to the emergency department with shortness of breath. He is not currently taking any medication for his breathing. The patient states that he usually gets short of breath only upon exertion, but he developed a “cold” several days ago that made his breathing worse. He has been placed on oxygen. The doctor wants him to have breathing treatments.
What medication, dose, and route of administration would you suggest?
(a) How should the effectiveness of the treatments be monitored?
(b) After several days of breathing treatments and antibiotics, the patient is ready for discharge, but he still becomes short of breath during the night. What maintenance medication(s) do you suggest?