What are nursing interventions for atelectasis?
Use this nursing diagnosis guide to formulate your ineffective airway clearance nursing care plan. Breathing comes naturally and effortlessly to everyone. But there are some who are incapable of keeping their airways clear and their lungs healthy. Maintaining a patent airway has always been vital to life. When a problem concerning the airway happens, coughing takes place, which is the main mechanism for clearing it. However, coughing may not always be easy to everyone especially to those patients with incisions, trauma, respiratory
muscle fatigue, or neuromuscular weakness. Mechanisms that exist in the lower bronchioles and alveoli to maintain the patency of the airway include the mucociliary system,
macrophages, and the lymphatics. Also, anesthesia and dehydration can alter the function of the mucociliary
system. Thus, increased production of secretions in conditions such as pneumonia and bronchitis can oppress these mechanisms. Ineffective airway clearance can be an acute (e.g., postoperative recovery) or chronic (e.g., CVA or spinal cord
injury) problem. High-risk for ineffective airway clearance are the aged individuals who have an increased incidence of emphysema and a higher prevalence of chronic
cough or sputum production. There is a wide range of airway clearance interventions that nurses can choose from when they are teaching the patients and family members the strategies of secretion removal. In general, these interventions are done to maintain a patent airway, improve comfort and ease of breathing, improve pulmonary ventilation and oxygenation, and to prevent risks associated with
oxygenation problems.
Signs and SymptomsAn ineffective airway clearance is characterized by the following signs and symptoms:
Goals and OutcomesThe following are the common goals and expected outcomes for Ineffective Airway Clearance.
Nursing Assessment for Ineffective Airway ClearanceContinuous assessment is necessary in order to know possible problems that may have lead to Ineffective Airway Clearance as well as name any concerns that may occur during nursing care.
Nursing Interventions for Ineffective Airway ClearanceThe following are the therapeutic nursing interventions for ineffective airway clearance:
Recommended ResourcesRecommended nursing diagnosis and nursing care plan books and resources. Disclosure: Included below are affiliate links from Amazon at no additional cost from you. We may earn a small commission from your purchase. For more information, check out our privacy policy.
See alsoOther recommended site resources for this nursing care plan:
References and SourcesHere are some recommended materials and sources for Ineffective Airway Clearance:
Gil Wayne graduated in 2008 with a bachelor of science in nursing. He earned his license to practice as a registered nurse during the same year. His drive for educating people stemmed from working as a community health nurse. He conducted first aid training and health seminars and workshops for teachers, community members, and local groups. Wanting to reach a bigger audience in teaching, he is now a writer and contributor for Nurseslabs since 2012 while working part-time as a nurse instructor. His goal is to expand his horizon in nursing-related topics. He wants to guide the next generation of nurses to achieve their goals and empower the nursing profession. Which interventions would be beneficial for a patient with atelectasis?They include: Performing deep-breathing exercises (incentive spirometry) and using a device to assist with deep coughing may help remove secretions and increase lung volume. Positioning your body so that your head is lower than your chest (postural drainage).
Which nursing intervention helps prevent atelectasis in the postoperative patient?Prophylactic maneuvers for reducing the incidence and magnitude of postoperative atelectasis in high-risk patients should be encouraged. These techniques are deep-breathing exercises, coughing exercises, and incentive spirometry.
What are the nursing diagnosis of atelectasis?Monitor for signs and symptoms of atelectasis: bronchial or tubular breath sounds, crackles, diminished chest excursion, limited diaphragm excursion, and tracheal shift to the affected side. The collapse of alveoli increases shunting (perfusion without ventilation), resulting in hypoxemia.
How can a nurse prevent atelectasis?For both surgical and medical patients, positioning and encouraging deep breathing and coughing are key nursing techniques to help prevent atelectasis.. Positioning. ... . Deep breathing and coughing, especially with the aid of an incentive spirometer.. |