Pneumonia: Nursing Care

By VeriScorePrep Team · 5 min

Pneumonia is infection of the lung parenchyma. Nursing care focuses on ventilation, oxygenation, hydration, and preventing complications.

Assessment

Fever, productive cough, pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea, tachypnea, crackles, and decreased breath sounds over affected areas. Hypoxia may show as restlessness or confusion before cyanosis.

Interventions

• Position for best ventilation — high Fowler's unless contraindicated.
• Encourage fluids (if not fluid-restricted) to thin secretions.
• Teach and coach incentive spirometry every hour while awake for postoperative and immobilized patients.
• Cough and deep breathe; suction if unable to clear.
• Administer antibiotics and antipyretics as ordered.
• Pulse oximetry; supplemental oxygen to maintain target saturation.

Older adults may present with confusion rather than classic signs — maintain suspicion in any acute change in mental status.