Working With Pulmonary Patients 

 

Additionally to working with cardiac patients in the 12 week rehab program, interns at the Miriam Hospital Cardiac Fitness Center work with pulmonary patients in their 12-week rehab program.  Those in this program suffer from COPD related illnesses and respiratory disabilities in which a respiratory RN is on the floor on both Tuesdays and Thursdays for those patients.  The same way exercise physiologists create exercise prescriptions for cardiac patients; they do the same for those pulmonary patients.  Many of these individuals carry oxygen tanks with them during their 90 minutes in the facility as well as at home.  During exercise we were to measure blood pressure as well as oxygen and pulse numbers using a pulse oxygen machine pictured in the bottom right of this screen.  

It is important to monitor and pay close attention to these patients as breathing difficulties may cause much discomfort as well as anxiety for most individuals.  Education to these patients during there 12 weeks with us consist of 

• Proper nutrition

• Speech pathology

• Foot care

• Exercise prescription

• Drug education 

• Stress management

• Relaxation 

• Proper breathing techniques