Atelectasis — NCLEX Cheat Sheet
Collapsed alveoli → ↓ gas exchangeAlso known as: lung collapse · collapsed alveoli · partial lung collapse
Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Atelectasis on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!
🩺📒 The 1-minute cheat sheet
⚠️ Causes
- Post-op #1 → shallow breaths, mucus
- Mucus plug, tumor, foreign body
- Immobility, no deep breathing
🩺 Signs
- ↓ breath sounds, dull percussion
- Dyspnea, tachypnea, ↓ SpO2
- Tracheal shift toward collapse
✅ Do
- Incentive spirometer q1-2h awake
- Cough, deep breathe, early ambulate
- Reposition q2h, splint incision
🚩 Report
- Worsening hypoxia despite O2
- Fever → possible pneumonia
📚 Atelectasis — full study notes
The cheat sheet above is your quick recall card. These notes go deeper — what it is, what to do first, what must be reported, and what to teach.
Key points
Understand these first- Diminished or absent breath sounds and crackles over the affected area are typical.
- Dyspnea, tachypnea, and decreased chest expansion on the affected side occur with larger collapse.
- Low-grade fever within the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery is classically linked to atelectasis.
- Hypoxemia, increased work of breathing, and a nonproductive cough may develop.
- Immobility, postoperative shallow breathing, and retained secretions are the most common causes.
- A chest x-ray shows areas of increased density and volume loss in the affected lung region.
Nursing priorities
What to do, in order- Encourage incentive spirometry every 1 to 2 hours while awake.
- Promote deep breathing, coughing, and frequent repositioning to re-expand alveoli.
- Encourage early ambulation after surgery to prevent and reverse collapse.
- Provide adequate pain control so the patient can breathe deeply and cough effectively.
- Encourage fluids and use chest physiotherapy or suctioning to mobilize secretions.
Red flags — report now
Escalate immediately- Worsening hypoxemia, increasing dyspnea, or new fever with productive sputum may signal progression to pneumonia.
- A sudden large area of absent breath sounds with respiratory distress requires immediate evaluation.
- Failure to respond to deep breathing and spirometry warrants provider notification.
Labs & values
Numbers to know- ABG may show mild hypoxemia (PaO2 <80) in significant atelectasis
- SpO2 monitoring (normal 95-100%)
Patient teaching
What patients must know- Use the incentive spirometer 10 times every hour while awake to keep the alveoli open.
- Splint the incision with a pillow when coughing to reduce pain after surgery.
- Get up and walk as soon as permitted and reposition frequently in bed.
❓ Atelectasis: NCLEX FAQs
What are the priority nursing interventions for Atelectasis?
Encourage incentive spirometry every 1 to 2 hours while awake. Promote deep breathing, coughing, and frequent repositioning to re-expand alveoli. Encourage early ambulation after surgery to prevent and reverse collapse. Provide adequate pain control so the patient can breathe deeply and cough effectively.
What are the warning signs of Atelectasis a nurse must report?
Worsening hypoxemia, increasing dyspnea, or new fever with productive sputum may signal progression to pneumonia. A sudden large area of absent breath sounds with respiratory distress requires immediate evaluation. Failure to respond to deep breathing and spirometry warrants provider notification.
What do I need to know about Atelectasis for the NCLEX?
Diminished or absent breath sounds and crackles over the affected area are typical. Dyspnea, tachypnea, and decreased chest expansion on the affected side occur with larger collapse. Low-grade fever within the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery is classically linked to atelectasis. Hypoxemia, increased work of breathing, and a nonproductive cough may develop.
What patient teaching is important for Atelectasis?
Use the incentive spirometer 10 times every hour while awake to keep the alveoli open. Splint the incision with a pillow when coughing to reduce pain after surgery. Get up and walk as soon as permitted and reposition frequently in bed.
Quick Tip
Diminished or absent breath sounds and crackles over the affected area are typical.
📖 Related Topics
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