I'm going to ask a question on here I want ER/ED nurses ONLY to answer. And to clarify:
1) I am NOT a student ER new grad/new nurse.
2) This is NOT a homework question.
I'm going to ask the question and want to see what answers I receive, then I will say why a bit later on. Get your brains in gear:
QUESTION: A male patient presents to the ER/ED/A&E with primary symptoms of shortness of breath, chest pain & lethargy. He is eventually diagnosed with a pneumothorax. He is lying ON the side where his pnemothorax is.
What as a nurse would you do re this pneumothorax? Which side (if any) would you get him to lie on?
As Arnie Schwarzeneggar says: I'LL BE BACK......to review the answers!
The solution to the pneumo is the chest tube insertion. O2 supplementation, careful monitoring, and pain control pretty much complete the ED course of treatment.
carolmaccas66, BSN, RN
2,212 Posts
I forgot to add: I think the patient also had a hx asthma and smoking.