ARDS

Structured condition card with NCLEX priority cues and nursing action focus.

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Respiratoryhigh priorityneeds review

ARDS

Also testable as: Acute respiratory distress syndrome

Practice

Etiology / Pathophysiology

  • Sepsis, trauma, aspiration, pneumonia, pancreatitis, or transfusion can trigger diffuse lung injury.
  • Leaky alveolar-capillary membrane causes noncardiogenic pulmonary edema and refractory hypoxemia.

Medications

No specific medication class was seeded for this card.

Nursing actions

  • Monitor severe hypoxemia that does not correct easily with oxygen.
  • Support mechanical ventilation strategies and prone positioning if ordered.
  • Prevent ventilator-associated complications and treat underlying cause.

Complications

  • Respiratory failure
  • Multi-organ dysfunction
  • Barotrauma

NCLEX cues

  • Severe dyspnea after sepsis/trauma.
  • Low PaO2 despite high oxygen.

Memory hooks

  • ARDS alveoli leak and stiffen.

Labs / Diagnostics

  • Trend assessment findings and ordered diagnostics; verify exact values with school source material.

Review notes

  • Session-derived study seed. Verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy before relying on details.

Drive Pack cross references

ARDSCondition