A nurse in ICU (intensive care unit) has been assigned to the rapid response team for the day. She is called to the medical surgical floor to the room of a 69 year old woman who was admitted for pneumonia. Her nurse reports that she has been fatigued and difficult to arouse all day, with shallow breathing and restlessness. In the last hour, her blood pressure has risen to 166/88 and her respirations are 30/minute. What does the nurse suspect might have happened?
Explanation
Answer: D - The nurse suspects the patient may be experiencing acute respiratory distress syndrome. Acute respiratory distress syndrome occurs when there has been a direct or indirect injury to the lungs that results in the collapse of the alveoli and the lungs to become stiff, decreasing their ability to work. Common conditions that can precipitate ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) include sepsis, pneumonia, aspiration of gastric contents, trauma, near drowning and pancreatitis.
