Question

The change of shift report tells you that Ms. P.B., a 43-year-old, admitted with acute asthma, had a restless night. She is still dyspneic (difficult or labored respiration) at 28 breaths/min and still demonstrating wheezes (to breathe with difficulty usually with a whistling sound), although not as acute as they were at admission. She is maintaining an oxygen saturation of 90% to 92% on oxygen at 4 L/min via nasal cannula. She is receiving breathing treatments every six hours, but needed a prn treatment around 0200. She is receiving IV fluids of NS at 150 mL/hr. As you enter the room to do your shift assessment, the patient tells you, “I don’t know what is going on with me. I have to go to the bathroom all the time and I just can’t make it there. I am so embarrassed, I just wet myself and the bed. I can’t catch my breath when I get up plus I can’t get there fast enough with all this stuff attached to me.” 1. What should be your initial response

Answer 1

First the reason for patient's discomfort can be because of IV fluid which makes the patient to void frequently. In these type of situation the following things has to be done

• Treat the patient with respect and dignity and make them feel secured by helping them instead of explaining to the patient in detail.This can help the patient to feel much more better and provide them a chance to come out with their problems.
• Address the cause for frequent bathroom visits and provide Interventions appropriately