NCLEX Peds – the Respiratory system (part 1)

peds respiratory

I hope you enjoyed your weekend and an extra day off. This week we continue our peds topics as we review the respiratory system. I have already mentioned that I worked on Peds for a year and most of the patients I had were dealing with some kind of respiratory issue. We only have a few days left in our May discounts.

Here are the post posting topics we’ve gone over – http://www.nclexreviewonline.com/posting-plan-for-nclex-topics/

This is reviewed in depth in Saunders chapter 39 – page 463 (in the 7^th edition).

Respiratory Overview – a great overview of Peds respiratory – if you read nothing else from the next two days, please review this – https://straightanursing.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/respiratory.pdf

The difference between croup and Epiglottitis – bacterial from of croup.

Croup s/s
- Viral
- Fever
- Hoarseness
- Resonant cough
- Stridor (inspiratory)
- Risk for significant narrowing airway with inflammation
- Humidity for treatment
Epiglotitis s/s
- Bacterial
- High fever
- Rapidly progressive course
- Dysphagia
- Drooling
- Dysphonia
- Distressed inspiratory efforts
- Antibiotics needed
Maintain patent airway
- Oxygen with humidification
- Keep resuscitation equipment at the bedside
- Provide mist – Cool mist humidifier or running hot water in closed bathroom
- Take out into cool, humid night air
Meet fluid and nutritional needs
- Cool, noncarbonated, non-acid drinks
- Assess for difficulty swallowing – may need IV therapy
Keep quiet as possible