Nursing Intervention for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), also known as chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD), chronic obstructive airway disease (COAD), chronic airflow limitation (CAL) and chronic obstructive respiratory disease (CORD), is the co-occurrence of chronic bronchitis and emphysema, a pair of commonly co-existing diseases of the lungs in which the airways become narrowed. This leads to a limitation of the flow of air to and from the lungs, causing shortness of breath. In clinical practice, COPD is defined by its characteristically low airflow on lung function tests. In contrast to asthma, this limitation is poorly reversible and usually gets progressively worse over time. In England, an estimated 842,100 of 50 million people have a diagnosis of COPD; thus, approximately 1 person in 59 is diagnosed with COPD at some point in their lives.


Nursing Intervention for COPD



Nursing Diagnosis for COPD


Ineffective Airway Clearance related to bronchoconstriction, Increased sputum production, ineffective cough, fatigue / decreased energy and bronkopulmonal infection.

Goal:
Achieving client airway clearance


Nursing Intervention for COPD

  1. Give the patient 6 to 8 glasses of fluid per day unless there is Cor pulmonale.
  2. Teach and give the use of diaphragmatic breathing and coughing techniques.
  3. Assist in the provision of a nebulizer action, measured dose inhalers.
  4. Perform postural drainage with percussion and vibration in the morning and at night as required.
  5. Instruct patient to avoid irritants such as cigarette smoke, aerosols, temperature extremes, and smoke.
  6. Teach about the early signs of infection should be reported to your doctor immediately: increased sputum, change in color of sputum, sputum viscosity, increased shortness of breath, chest tightness, fatigue.
  7. Give antibiotics as required.
  8. Give encouragement to patients to immunize against influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae.


Nursing Diagnosis for COPD

Ineffective Breathing Pattern related to shortness of breath, mucus, bronchoconstriction and airway Irritants.

Goal:
Improvement of breathing patterns


Nursing Intervention for COPD
  1. Teach client diaphragmatic breathing exercises and breathing lips sealed.
  2. Give encouragement to intersperse activity with periods of rest. Let the patient make decisions about treatment based on patient tolerance level.
  3. Give encouragement to use the muscles of breathing exercises if required.