Maureen Matthews is 84 years old. She has been living in a nursing home for the

Maureen Matthews is 84 years old. She has been living in a nursing home for the past 8 years. She is unable to complete her activities of daily living independently due to COPD. Her children come to visit frequently. Over the past week, Maureen has been having increased difficulty ambulating between the bathroom and her living quarters. She has always been able to ambulate with standby assist. (Learning Objectives 2 and 3.)
1. What if…The nurse’s aide that is caring for Maureen comes to get you? She is worried that Maureen is not breathing well. She does not know what to do. What assessment techniques can you use to assess Maureen?
2. What if…You see a concern for her breathing, and the physician is called? The physician ordered oxygen for Maureen to use. What other steps can you take to help improve Maureen’s breathing and quality of air?
3. What if…Maureen is continuing to feel short of breath at times? Her family likes to turn up the flow of oxygen when she becomes distressed. What steps should you take to ensure Maureen is on the right flow of oxygen?
4. What if…You determine that Ms. Matthews’ family would benefit from information concerning the measures needed to help promote respiratory health in older clients? What information should you be prepared to share with them on their next visit.