Section: NCLEX

47) A 67-year-old patient with emphysema becomes restless and confused. Which of the following actions, if taken by the nurse, is BEST?

1. Encourage the patient to perform pursed lip breathing.
2. Check the patient’s temperature.
3. Assess the patient’s potassium level.
4. Increase the patient’s oxygen flow rate to 5 L/min.

This prevents collapse of lung unit and helps the patient control the rate and depth of breathing.