What is the expected nursing intervention for a patient showing signs of respiratory distress?

The expected nursing intervention for a patient showing signs of respiratory distress is to assess lung sounds and monitor vital signs. This action is crucial for several reasons. First, assessing lung sounds provides insight into the patient's respiratory status, helping to identify any abnormalities such as wheezing, crackles, or diminished breath sounds. These findings can indicate the underlying cause of the respiratory distress, such as asthma, pneumonia, or fluid overload.

Monitoring vital signs, including respiratory rate, pulse oximetry, heart rate, and blood pressure, is also essential in evaluating the severity of the patient's condition and guiding further interventions. Changes in these parameters can indicate worsening distress or the effectiveness of any treatments that have been initiated.

While keeping the patient calm can be beneficial and providing high-flow oxygen may be necessary, those interventions typically follow an initial assessment. Understanding a patient’s current physiological status through lung sounds and vital signs helps the nurse to prioritize care, implement the most effective interventions promptly, and alert the healthcare team if the situation escalates.