Pneumonia
Structured condition card with NCLEX priority cues and nursing action focus.
Respiratoryhigh priorityneeds review
Pneumonia
Etiology / Pathophysiology
- Infection inflames alveoli and fills airspaces with fluid or pus.
- Gas exchange worsens because alveoli are not ventilating normally.
Medications
| Class | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Antibiotics by class | Used for bacterial pneumonia according to source/protocol. |
Nursing actions
- Assess respiratory rate, lung sounds, oxygenation, fever, and sputum.
- Encourage coughing, deep breathing, fluids if allowed, and mobility.
- Obtain sputum culture before antibiotic if ordered and not delaying urgent care.
Complications
- Sepsis
- Respiratory failure
- Pleural effusion
NCLEX cues
- Fever, cough, crackles, hypoxia.
- Older adults may present with confusion.
Memory hooks
- Pneumonia fills air sacs; oxygenation drives priority.
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.