Incentive Spirometer Volume Trending and Documentation
Post-operative pulmonary infections in patients over the age of 65 years present a number of health challenges. These infections, especially pneumonia contribute to the increased the mortality rate of aged patients. Additionally, it has resulted in increased re-admissions rates and prolonged hospital stay, thereby increasing the cost of treatment. These have adverse effects on the hospitals and the patients (Carvalho, Paisani, & Lunardi, 2011). As such, there is need to develop interventions that will help reduce the rate of post-operative pulmonary infections in patients aged 65 and above. In this respect, this paper discusses the use of incentive to minimize the chances of aged patients developing post-operative pneumonia.
Proposed Solution
Firstly, a survey will be conducted to …show more content…
However, this effect is not consistent with all patients. In the use of incentive spirometry, patients are required to inhale at a predetermined flow and sustain the inhalation process for a predetermined length of time, preferably at least five seconds. A device is used to monitor this process. Nurses are required to instruct patients in how to use the device. It is advised that patients hold the device in an upright position and breathe normally. Their lips need to be placed tightly around the mouthpiece (Restrepo, Wettstein, Wittnebel, & Tracy, 2011). Afterwards, the patients are required to inhale and displace a ball or piston plate in the tube to a target level. This ensures maximum inhalation that is followed by a breath-hold and normal exhalation. This intervention is safe and inexpensive, thereby making it common in most hospitals (Patel,
Post-operative pulmonary infections in patients over the age of 65 years present a number of health challenges. These infections, especially pneumonia contribute to the increased the mortality rate of aged patients. Additionally, it has resulted in increased re-admissions rates and prolonged hospital stay, thereby increasing the cost of treatment. These have adverse effects on the hospitals and the patients (Carvalho, Paisani, & Lunardi, 2011). As such, there is need to develop interventions that will help reduce the rate of post-operative pulmonary infections in patients aged 65 and above. In this respect, this paper discusses the use of incentive to minimize the chances of aged patients developing post-operative pneumonia.
Proposed Solution
Firstly, a survey will be conducted to …show more content…
However, this effect is not consistent with all patients. In the use of incentive spirometry, patients are required to inhale at a predetermined flow and sustain the inhalation process for a predetermined length of time, preferably at least five seconds. A device is used to monitor this process. Nurses are required to instruct patients in how to use the device. It is advised that patients hold the device in an upright position and breathe normally. Their lips need to be placed tightly around the mouthpiece (Restrepo, Wettstein, Wittnebel, & Tracy, 2011). Afterwards, the patients are required to inhale and displace a ball or piston plate in the tube to a target level. This ensures maximum inhalation that is followed by a breath-hold and normal exhalation. This intervention is safe and inexpensive, thereby making it common in most hospitals (Patel,