A nurse is caring for a patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and notices that the patient is using a CPAP machine. The nurse understands that CPAP is used to:

1. A

   Deliver positive pressure to keep the airways open

2. B

   Treat hypovolemic shock

3. C

   Provide oxygen to the patient during sleep

4. D

   Prevent pneumonia in COPD patients

Appeared in: NORCET 7 Prelims -2024

Explanation

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• CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, which describes its primary function.
• It delivers a single, constant pressure throughout the respiratory cycle (both inspiration and expiration).
• This continuous pressure acts as a pneumatic (air) splint to keep the upper and lower airways open and prevent their collapse.
• By maintaining airway patency, CPAP reduces the work of breathing, improves alveolar ventilation, and enhances oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option B: Hypovolemic shock is a circulatory emergency caused by severe fluid or blood loss. It requires volume replacement with intravenous fluids or blood products.
• Option C: While supplemental oxygen can be delivered via a CPAP machine, its primary function is to provide pressure, not oxygen. The machine can effectively splint airways open using only room air.
• Option D: CPAP is not a primary intervention for preventing pneumonia. While it can help reduce atelectasis (collapsed alveoli), which is a risk factor for pneumonia, its main purpose is treating airway obstruction or sleep apnea.

Related Visual

• Visual 1: Diagram: A visual comparison of a normal airway collapsing during exhalation versus an airway being held open by the continuous pressure from CPAP.
• Visual 2: Infographic: The components of a CPAP system, showing the machine, humidifier chamber, tubing, and different mask types (e.g., nasal pillow, nasal mask, full-face mask).

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Mechanism and Purpose of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
• A key nursing responsibility is ensuring a proper mask fit. A loose mask causes air leaks, rendering the therapy ineffective. A mask that is too tight can lead to pressure injuries, particularly on the bridge of the nose.
• Nurses must monitor patients for potential complications of CPAP, including feelings of claustrophobia, gastric distention from swallowing air (aerophagia), and skin breakdown.
• Patient education is crucial for adherence. Nurses should explain the purpose of the therapy and teach the patient how to apply the mask and perform basic care.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the key term in the question: 'CPAP'.
• Recall the full name of the acronym: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. The purpose is explicitly stated in its name.
• Analyze each option to see which one best aligns with the concept of 'continuous positive airway pressure'.
• The option 'Deliver positive pressure to keep the airways open' is a direct description of the therapy's mechanism.
• Eliminate the other options by identifying why they are incorrect: one treats a different body system (circulatory), one describes a secondary function (oxygen), and one describes an indirect benefit rather than the primary purpose (pneumonia prevention).

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Mechanism and Purpose of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
• Stem keywords: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), CPAP machine, nurse
• Lead-in keywords: used to
• Negative lead-in flag: false

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QAj4Of-zuR_l1jTiC_QFXU

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