Preventing Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Patients with Sepsis: Importance of Elevating Head of Bed to 30 Degrees

A patient with sepsis is orally intubated on mechanical ventilation. Which nursing action is most important?Giving morphine for discomfortClustering nursing care activitiesUsing an open-suctioning techniqueElevating the head of the bed 30 degrees

Elevating the HOB 30 degrees

The most important nursing action for a patient with sepsis who is orally intubated on mechanical ventilation is elevating the head of the bed 30 degrees. This is because elevating the head of the bed helps to decrease the risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), which is a serious pulmonary complication that often affects patients who are on mechanical ventilation. By elevating the head of the bed to 30 degrees or higher, the patient’s lungs are better ventilated and secretions are more easily drained.

Giving morphine for discomfort may be necessary for the patient’s comfort, but it is not the most important nursing action in this situation. Clustering nursing care activities is also important to help reduce the risk of infection, but it is not as essential as elevating the head of the bed. Using an open-suctioning technique may increase the risk of infection, as it introduces pathogens directly into the airway. Therefore, a closed-suctioning technique is preferred to reduce the colonization of bacteria in the respiratory tract.

In summary, elevating the head of the bed 30 degrees is the most crucial nursing intervention for preventing complications associated with being orally intubated on mechanical ventilation.

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