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. |
Signs / symptoms
- Cough, which may produce sputum.
- Fever or chills.
- Shortness of breath, tachypnea, or hypoxia.
- Chest pain that worsens with breathing or coughing.
- Fatigue or weakness.
- New confusion, especially in older adults.
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.
Cross references
Related cards are generated from the shared study map, not hand-built per page.
Source entitycondition card
Pneumonia
Condition card for Pneumonia: recognize the testable cue, prevent the complication, and choose the safest first nursing action.
Med classmedication safety
Antibiotics by class
Targets bacterial growth or cell structures; exact teaching depends on the antibiotic class.
Sources and evidence
- https://www.cdc.gov/pneumonia/about/index.htmlSigns / symptoms
- https://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/hcp/clinical-signs/index.htmlSigns / symptoms