greg2253

I'm trying to figure out the nursing diagnosis but I'm just a student starting out in nursing school so I could use a little help. The patient is a 31 year old engineer with a nagging cough (for 3 days) with mucoid (initially was clear sputum). Has continuous congested cough with substernal pain/tenderness, sore throat, postnasal drip, fatigue, shortness of breath with exercise. Previously has had pneumonia in early 20's. Smokes 1 cigar a week. I've been trying to figure it out and I'm getting to maybe COPD or bronchitis or maybe something else but i need help. The reason I'm not sure on COPD is because it doesn't say anything about pain in my diagnosis book. I know COPD and bronchitis are medical diagnoses...those are just the topics I'm looking under for a nursing diagnosis in the NANDA book. Right now I put: Ineffective airway clearance r/t excessive thickened mucous secretion AEB persistent cough, headache, postnasal drip, coughing with mucoid.