An adult patient presents to the emergency department with complaints of shortness of breath and increased work of breathing.

Assessment

The patient is alert and oriented times 3, skin is pink, warm and dry. BP 148/88, T98, P92. R 24, pulse oximetry 91% on room air. Assessment of the lung reveals expiratory wheezing throughout the lung fields.

The physician orders an albuterol nebulizer. What assessments should the nurse plan to complete after administering the albuterol?

(Select All that Apply.)

A. Respiratory rate and pulse: Albuterol is a bronchodilator medication commonly used to relieve bronchospasm in conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Monitoring the patient's respiratory rate and pulse is essential to assess the response to the medication and any potential adverse effects.
 
B. Pulse oximetry: Albuterol helps to open the airways and improve oxygenation in patients with bronchospasm. Monitoring oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry provides valuable information about the patient's respiratory status and response to treatment.
 
C. Capillary refill: Capillary refill is typically assessed to evaluate peripheral perfusion and circulation. While it is an important assessment in certain clinical situations, it is not directly related to monitoring the response to albuterol administration.
 
D. Glucose: Glucose monitoring is not typically indicated after administering albuterol nebulizer unless the patient has a history of diabetes or there are specific concerns regarding glucose levels.

E. Lung sounds: Assessing lung sounds before and after administering albuterol helps to evaluate the effectiveness of the medication in relieving bronchospasm. Improvement in lung sounds, such as decreased wheezing or clearer breath sounds, indicates a positive response to treatment.