Therapeutic interventions and nursing actions for patients with pneumonia

Nursing Interventions and Actions

Therapeutic interventions and nursing actions for patients with pneumonia may include:

• 1. Maintaining Patent Airway Clearance
• 2. Improving Gas Exchange
• 3. Promoting Effective Breathing Pattern and Breathing Exercises
• 4. Administering Medications and Pharmacological Support
• 5. Initiating Measures for Infection Control & Management
• 6. Managing Acute Pain & Discomfort
• 7. Promoting Rest and Improving Tolerance to Activity
• 8. Maintaining Normal Body Thermoregulation
• 9. Promoting Optimal Nutrition & Fluid Balance
• 10. Providing Patient Education & Health Teachings
• 11. Monitoring Potential Complications of Pneumonia

1. Maintaining Patent Airway Clearance

To address excessive secretions and ineffective coughing in pneumonia, the nurse encourages hydration, uses humidification, promotes voluntary or reflex coughing, and guides patients in performing effective directed coughs. Lung expansion maneuvers and external pressure assistance may be utilized to improve airway clearance. Assess the rate, rhythm, and depth of respiration, chest movement, and use of accessory muscles. Tachypnea, shallow respirations and asymmetric chest movement are frequently present because of the discomfort of moving the chest wall and fluid in the lung due to a compensatory response to airway obstruction. Altered breathing patterns may occur together with accessory muscles to increase chest excursion to facilitate effective breathing. Assess cough effectiveness and productivity Coughing is the most effective way to remove secretions. Pneumonia may cause thick and tenacious secretions in patients. Effective secretion removal is crucial as retained secretions can impede gas exchange and delay recovery. The nurse promotes hydration of 2 to 3 liters per day to facilitate thinning and loosening of pulmonary secretions. Auscultate lung fields, noting areas of decreased or absent airflow and adventitious breath sounds: crackles, wheezes. Decreased airflow occurs in areas with consolidated fluid. Bronchial breath sounds can also occur in these consolidated areas. Crackles, rhonchi, and wheezes are heard on inspiration, expiration due to fluid accumulation, thick secretions, and airway spasms and obstruction. Observe the sputum color, viscosity, and odor. Report changes. Changes in sputum characteristics may indicate infection. Sputum that is discolored, tenacious, or has an odor may increase airway resistance and warrant further intervention

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