Lorraine Poulos

9 Breathing Changes Being alert for deterioration 1 2 3 4 Know your client’s health baselines: • Has your client shown changes to breathing patterns? • Are they taking longer to walk / transfer? • Are they using furniture to support their walking or steady their balance? Health Assessment: • Are they coughing more than usual? • Any reports of pain when coughing? • Is the cough productive? • Are they reporting poor sleep? • Check medications: are there missed doses? • Review if mobility function has altered from baseline Observations: • Increased oedema / ankle or sacral swelling • Changes to pallour, colour around lips • Struggling to talk without dyspnoea • Management of nebuliser / medications Document in the Client Journal: • Changes or concerns Guide for consumers, carers and workers