Summary:
Mr. G. is an elderly man who is hospitalized with bacterial pneumonia. He rapidly deteriorates and requires mechanical ventilation and transfer to the CCU. He becomes restless and fights the ventilator. The RT attributes his restlessness to fear when in fact he is dyspneic.
Mrs. N., a patient with asthma, has repeated ED visits and hospitalizations associated with near-fatal asthma attacks despite taking medications prescribed according to asthma clinical practice guidelines. A near-fatal asthma attack requires intubation or results in an altered mental status with respiratory failure.
It is crucial for RTs to understand dyspnea and its underlying mechanisms. RTs must evaluate the outcome of treatment for dyspnea. As the patient’s disease progresses, dyspnea may worsen and alternate treatments can be used. As with pain management, patients need to be treated aggressively for dyspnea.
Objectives:
The goal of this program is to update respiratory therapists on the mechanisms of dyspnea and its evidence-based assessment and management. After you study this information, you will be able to —
- Describe the characteristics, common causes, and underlying mechanisms of dyspnea.
- Discuss the evidence-based assessment of dyspnea with emphasis on clinical indicators in different conditions and patient populations.
- Explain the evidence-based management of dyspnea.
Approval Information
This CE course is approved for respiratory therapists from 1/17/2012 to 1/17/2014.
This program has been approved for 1 contact hour of Continuing Respiratory Care Education (CRCE) credit by the American Association for Respiratory Care, 9425 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 100, Irving, TX 75063. AARC Sponsor ID: 9514012. This is a non-traditional course.
If you are a respiratory therapist, remember to give us your AARC member number when filling out your license number information.
Gannett Education is also approved by the Florida Board of Respiratory Care (provider #FBN 50-1489).