Introduction: Pulmonary edema is one of the most urgent conditions in the emergency department. It is characterized by dyspnea and hypoxia, which is a result of fluid accumulation in the lungs, and impairs gas exchange and lung coherence. It is important to early recognize signs and symptoms of the pulmonary edema in a timely manner, as well as immediate treatment. Purpose: The purpose of this diploma work is to present the importance of prompt and proper medical treatment of a patient with pulmonary edema in an emergency room. As well as to highlight the role of the nurse in this critical situation. Methods: In the diploma work was used a descriptive method with a systematic review and analysis of Slovenian and English literature. The literature search was performed via remote access to the digital library of the University of Ljubljana (DiKUL) in the CINAHL, Medline, Science Direct and Cochrane databases. The Slovene language literature was searched through the mutual catalog database COBIB.SI. Results: For analysis were used 19 units of literature. The pulmonary edema is a life-threatening medical condition of the patient, where the nurse must have knowledge of this condition, recognize it and take timely action in case of the signs of pulmonary edema. Nurse is involved in the supervision and observation of the patient, ensuring effective breathing, assistance in carrying out basic life activities, psychosocial support to the patient and the application of medication. To ensure optimal medical care, nurse must be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of deteriorating patient health. For patients with pulmonary edema, oxygen therapy is crucial, but can be dangerous when patients are exposed to high concentrations. Oxygen is used only after a preliminary check of blood oxygen saturation and is indicated at values lower than 92%. Discussion and conclusion: Pulmonary edema is an urgent condition that progresses rapidly, therefore the nurse must have a lot of expertise, experience, skills, and the ability to respond quickly and calmly in critical situations. Nurse need to be aware of the consequences associated with oxygen application. The quality of nursing care and overall medical treatment could be improved by developing of a protocol for the treatment of this group of critically ill patients in emergency departments. Continuous professional training of healthcare professionals involved in their treatment is important as well.
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