Nursing Intervention Pneumonia

The nursing interventions for pneumonia are the care and treatment that you provide to a patient with pneumonia. The following sections will describe this care.

Percussion and postural drainage

Percussion and postural drainage is a treatment for pneumonia. It helps to loosen mucus in the lungs and break up lung congestion, which can help keep the lungs clear of mucus.

Assess respiratory pattern

• Assess respiratory pattern.
• Look at the patient’s breathing pattern and ask him to breathe into a paper bag. If he is unable to do so, ask him to take deep breaths. Note if there is any wheezing or rattling sounds in the chest (called stridor). Also look for other signs of pneumonia, such as increased respiratory rate, decreased ease of breathing and increased effort while breathing.

Monitor SpO2

• Monitor SpO2 (blood oxygen saturation).
• Know what normal SpO2 is for your patient.
• Know the dangers of low SpO2 (hypoxia).

Care of tracheostomy (if needed)

• Tracheostomy tube: The tracheostomy tube is a hollow plastic or metal device that is inserted into the trachea to facilitate breathing. It may be secured in place with a cuff or other means, such as an adhesive dressing. It must be cleaned after each use and replaced when it becomes soiled (usually every 3 to 7 days).
• Care of the skin around the tracheostomy site: Skin care around the site of insertion should include regular cleaning with mild soap followed by gentle drying with gauze pads. This prevents infection and keeps secretions from building up under the skin.
• Care of tracheostomy tube cuff: The outer part of some types of tubes has a cuff that fits over it; this also helps prevent secretions from building up under it. Cuffs should be checked regularly for signs of irritation like redness or swelling; if these occur, they should be loosened slightly. If swelling persists despite loosening, remove any clothing that might rub against those areas before putting them back on again (this includes shirts, sweaters, and jackets) until swelling subsides enough for clothes not too constrictive fit comfortably again

Administer oxygen support (if needed)

Oxygen support is used to help treat pneumonia. Oxygen is given by mask, nasal cannula or endotracheal tube. Oxygen can be helpful for patients who are having trouble breathing because of pneumonia.

Teach patient to cough and deep breathe from affected area

Teach the patient to cough and deep breathe from the affected area every 2 hours. If the patient is having difficulty breathing, instruct them to take deep breaths every hour.

Provide pain management measures as ordered

Your nursing responsibilities include pain management measures as ordered.

• Check the patient’s pain management plan
• Check the patient’s pain level (i.e., using a numerical scale, such as 1-10)
• Check with the nurse providing analgesia for any changes in orders or dosage instructions for medications for pain relief during this admission.

If you find that the patient is in severe distress and requires immediate intervention from another practitioner or agency, call 911 immediately and stay with your patient until help arrives.

Nursing Intervention for Pneumonia

The purpose of nursing intervention is to help the patient achieve a more comfortable state of health and decrease their risk of complications. Some examples of nursing interventions include:

• Percussion and postural drainage
• Assessment of respiratory pattern, including SpO2 readings and monitoring progress
• Care of tracheostomy (if needed)
• Administering oxygen support (if needed) if the patient requires it

Patient teaching should also be a part of this process, such as teaching the patient how to cough effectively from the affected area and deep breathing from that area as well

Nursing Intervention for Pneumonia