Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Analysis The arterial blood gas (ABG) measures the acid-base balance (pH) and oxygenation of an arterial blood sample. An ABG is a tool used to assess respiratory compromise and medical conditions that cause metabolic abnormalities (such as sepsis...

Caring for the Mechanically Ventilated Patient Mechanical ventilation is utilized in intensive care and long-term care settings to assist patients who require additional respiratory support. This handy reference guide provides critical patient care essentials, tips for trouble-shooting...

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used for both cardiac and pulmonary failure when conventional measures (i.e., mechanical ventilation, intraaortic balloon pump) are inadequate to support life. While not a cure for the underlying...

Managing COVID-19 ARDS in Adults Patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia develop acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. While severely hypoxic COVID-19 patients meet the criteria for typical acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), COVID-19 ARDS has unique characteristics...

Mechanical Ventilation: Settings and Basic Modes Mechanical ventilation is a lifesaving tool utilized in the intensive care unit, during surgical procedures requiring general anesthesia, and in long-term acute care settings to assist patients who require additional respiratory support. Invasive...

Pneumonia in the Adult Pneumonia is a heterogeneous disease with a host response that ranges from mild symptoms (fever, cough, and chest pain) to septic shock with multisystem organ failure. Nurses have an important role in the management of the patient being treated...

Prone Positioning: Conscious, Non-Intubated Patient with COVID-19 ARDS Prone positioning for conscious, non-intubated patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been widely adopted. Awake pronation of patients with severe hypoxia from COVID-19 is associated with decreased intubation rates...

Proning Therapy for Patients with ARDS Prone ventilation is a technique of turning a patient with severe hypoxic respiratory failure from the supine to the prone position to improve oxygenation. This maneuver has been successful in the management of patients with acute lung injury or...

Pulmonary Assessment Focused pulmonary assessment begins with a thorough health history. While doing so, carefully observe for conversational dyspnea and other symptoms. Order of examination is performed as inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.Optimal...

Recognizing and Managing Adult Viral Respiratory Infections Adult viral illnesses are a common cause of respiratory tract disease, with severity ranging from a mild cold to life-threatening influenza. The mechanisms by which respiratory viruses spread from person to person are variable and include...

Transporting Critically Ill Patients Critically ill patients are transported within an institution or to other hospitals to obtain additional care that is not available at the current location, such as diagnostic studies, specialized care units, or clinical expertise. Transporting...