Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN) Practice Exam

In managing respiratory distress, which action is crucial for continuous assessment?

1. Immediate sedation

2. Cardiac monitoring

3. Physical therapy interventions

4. Intramuscular injections

The correct answer is: Cardiac monitoring

Continuous assessment in managing respiratory distress is vital to ensure that the patient is maintaining adequate oxygenation and ventilation. Cardiac monitoring plays a crucial role in this context because respiratory distress can impact the cardiovascular system. As the body struggles to compensate for decreased oxygen levels, it can lead to changes in heart rhythm and rate. Monitoring the patient’s cardiac activity allows for the early detection of arrhythmias or additional complications that may arise from respiratory compromise. The other options do not provide the same level of ongoing assessment relevant to the patient's respiratory and cardiac status during distress. Immediate sedation can depress respiratory effort, which could worsen the situation if not properly monitored. Physical therapy interventions, while beneficial in certain scenarios, are typically not part of immediate management for active respiratory distress. Intramuscular injections may be used for specific medications but do not lend to continuous assessment of respiratory status.