Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 76%
Full-length
A client is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of suspected pulmonary embolism. Physician orders include the following: oxygen 2 to 4 L/minute per nasal cannula, oximetry at all times, and I.V. administration of 5% dextrose in water at 100 mL/hour. The client has increasing dyspnea and has a respiratory rate of 32 breaths/minute. The nurse should:
Correct answer
A
Rationale
Increasing oxygen flow within the ordered range addresses increasing dyspnea and maintains oxygenation, which is the priority in suspected pulmonary embolism.