Focused Clinical Activity – Gas Exchange
Name:________________________
Choose three patients each with a different diagnosis that is affecting normal Gas Exchange. Do a focused
assessment including history of present illness (HPI) for each patient. Interview each patient’s primary nurse
and finally, review the patient’s current medical record. Spend about 45 minutes per patient for assessment
and medical record review then answer the following questions:
Patient-Centered Care
Patient initials & room
number
Admitting Diagnosis
Diagnosis affecting
normal Gas Exchange
List abnormal findings
for each patient.
Compare and contrast
any differences
between patients.
Describe the patient’s
understanding of their
illness (use direct
quotes and
paraphrasing).
Describe your initial
understanding of each
patient’s illness prior to
reviewing the chart.
Compare and contrast
what you, your patient
and the primary nurse’s
responses above.
Clinical Judgment
Compare and contrast
lab significant lab
values, such as WBC’s,
ABG’s.
Compare and contrast
trends in VS over the
past 24 hours between
each of the 3 patients.
Teamwork and Collaboration
List treatments that
have been administered
by the Respiratory
Therapy personnel.
Oxygen?
Breathing Treatments?
Peak Flow
measurements?
List the goals of
treatment along with
evaluation that has
been identified by the
Respiratory Therapy
personnel.
Compare and contrast
the Nursing Care Plan to
the plan/goals
identified by the
Respiratory Therapy
personnel.
Compare and contrast
medications ordered for
each patient’s Gas
Exchange illness.
Include the drug
category for each
medication.
FOCUSED ASSESSMENT Worksheet
Student _________________________
Gas Exchange Concept
Date ________________WK#________
Room #/Age/Sex
Vital Signs
Breathing Pattern
Depth
Symmetry
Lung Sounds
(Location of
Abnormal)
Audibility
Dyspnea
Chest Pain
Cough
Sputum
(Color, Amt.,
Consistency, Odor)
Position for Ease of
Breathing
(High Fowlers, Semi,
Tri-pod, etc.)
Mode of Breathing
(Mouth, Nose, Both)
Assistive Devices
(O2, IS, Vent, Trach,
Pulse Ox)
Accessory Muscle
Use
Medications related
to gas exchange
problem.