Pulmonary embolism
Structured condition card with NCLEX priority cues and nursing action focus.
Respiratoryhigh priorityneeds review
Pulmonary embolism
Etiology / Pathophysiology
- Clot travels to pulmonary arteries, often from DVT.
- Blocked pulmonary circulation impairs oxygenation and strains the right heart.
Medications
| Class | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Anticoagulants | Prevents clot extension and new clot formation. |
Nursing actions
- Assess sudden dyspnea, chest pain, tachycardia, hypoxia, and anxiety.
- Apply oxygen and notify provider/rapid response per severity.
- Monitor anticoagulation safety and bleeding.
Complications
- Shock
- Respiratory failure
- Right heart strain
- Death
NCLEX cues
- Sudden shortness of breath after immobility or surgery.
- Unexplained tachycardia/hypoxia.
Memory hooks
- PE is a clot in the lung: oxygen and perfusion emergency.
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.