RSV
Structured condition card with NCLEX priority cues and nursing action focus.
RSV
Also testable as: Respiratory syncytial virus, Bronchiolitis
Etiology / Pathophysiology
- Respiratory syncytial virus spreads by droplets/contact and commonly affects infants and young children.
- Small airway inflammation, mucus, and edema can cause bronchiolitis, wheeze, hypoxia, and dehydration.
Medications
| Class | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Bronchodilators | May be trialed only when ordered; supportive care is central. |
Signs / symptoms
- Infant with wheezing, retractions, poor feeding.
- Bradycardia/apnea are late danger cues.
- Hydration and oxygenation outrank routine teaching.
Nursing actions
- Assess work of breathing, retractions, nasal flaring, grunting, oxygen saturation, hydration, and feeding.
- Use contact/droplet precautions per policy and suction nares before feeds when ordered.
- Escalate apnea, cyanosis, exhaustion, poor perfusion, or inability to maintain hydration.
Complications
- Bronchiolitis
- Pneumonia
- Apnea
- Respiratory failure
- Dehydration
NCLEX cues
- Infant with wheezing, retractions, poor feeding.
- Bradycardia/apnea are late danger cues.
- Hydration and oxygenation outrank routine teaching.
Memory hooks
- RSV: tiny airways clog fast.
Labs / Diagnostics
- Pulse oximetry
- Respiratory viral testing if ordered
- Hydration and weight assessment
Review notes
- Supplemental wife-requested study card. Use for NCLEX review only and verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy.
Cross references
Related cards are generated from the shared study map, not hand-built per page.
Condition card for RSV: recognize the testable cue, prevent the complication, and choose the safest first nursing action.
Techniques that help mobilize and remove respiratory secretions.
Focused evaluation and support of airway patency, breathing effort, oxygenation, and need for escalation.
Feeding support for infants or children with structural, surgical, or respiratory feeding concerns.
Temporary stop in breathing.
Bluish or gray discoloration from low oxygenation or poor perfusion.
Isolation used for infections spread by large respiratory droplets.
Skin pulling in around ribs, sternum, or neck during breathing.
Sources and evidence
- https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.htmlCondition