Progressive Care Nursing Certification (PCCN) Practice Exam

What does the patient with respiratory failure typically experience in their work of breathing?

1. Ease and comfort

2. Normal workload

3. Increased work of breathing

4. Decreased respiratory effort

The correct answer is: Increased work of breathing

A patient experiencing respiratory failure typically encounters increased work of breathing due to several physiological changes. In respiratory failure, there is often impaired gas exchange and the body struggles to maintain adequate oxygenation and remove carbon dioxide. This can result from various conditions, including obstructive lung diseases, central nervous system disorders, or neuromuscular diseases. As a result, patients must exert more effort to breathe, leading to increased use of accessory muscles, greater rates of respiration, and potentially more significant fatigue. The combination of reduced lung function and the body's need for more oxygen can lead to a feeling of breathlessness, which directly correlates to the increased workload on the respiratory muscles. This contrasts with the other options, where ease and comfort, normal workload, and decreased respiratory effort do not accurately represent the challenges faced by someone in respiratory failure. Such patients are actively working harder to breathe, making it critical for healthcare providers to assess their respiratory status and intervene as necessary.