--- title: "COPD: Do Field Staff Know The Fundamentals?" description: COPD and asthma are common reasons for admission to the hospital and comorbidity in patients admitted for acute care...review this 20-item NCLEX-style exam image: https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/hubfs/img-elderly-inhaler-COPD.jpe --- [![PowerPath.ai](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Power-Path-copy.ai_-2048x263.png?width=2000&height=256&name=Power-Path-copy.ai_-2048x263.png "PowerPath.ai")](https://powerpath.ai/) - [How It Works](https://powerpath.ai/how-it-works/) - [Tools for Growth](https://powerpath.ai/tools-for-growth/) - [Meet Pattii](https://powerpath.ai/meet-pattii/) - [Resources](https://powerpath.ai/resources/) - [Blog](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/blog) - [About](https://powerpath.ai/about/) - [Contact](https://powerpath.ai/contact/) [My Account](https://secure.myhomecarebiz.com/) [Get Demo](https://melissa-myhomecarebiz.youcanbook.me/) ![BlogHeaderImg](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BlogHeaderImg.png?width=2000&height=666&name=BlogHeaderImg.png "BlogHeaderImg") # Home Health Insights Stay informed with the latest news in home health. ## Browse by Topic - [Regulatory News for Home Health & Hospice (173)](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/blog/topic/regulatory-news-for-home-health-hospice) - [Clinical Best Practices for Home Health & Hospice (22)](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/blog/topic/clinical-best-practices-for-home-health-hospice) - [Home Health Billing & Coding (21)](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/blog/topic/home-health-billing-coding) - [Home Health Marketing (18)](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/blog/topic/home-health-marketing) ## COPD: Do Field Staff Know The Fundamentals? COPD: Do Field Staff Know The Fundamentals? Posted by Melissa Cott on Mar 11, 2022 # COPD: Do Field Staff Know The Fundamentals? Posted by [Melissa Cott](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/blog/author/melissa-cott) on Mar 11, 2022 [From Nurselabs](https://nurseslabs.com/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd-nursing-care-plans/): Any respiratory disease that persistently obstructs bronchial airflow fall under the broad classification of COPD, also known as chronic airflow limitations (CAL). Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a condition of chronic dyspnea with expiratory airflow limitation that does not significantly fluctuate. Within that broad category, the primary cause of the obstruction may vary; examples include airway inflammation, mucous plugging, narrowed airway lumina, or airway destruction.[![Take the COPD Quiz for Skilled Nursing!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/375308/e0e33704-6a0c-4e79-bd2d-b7c240c18192.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/375308/e0e33704-6a0c-4e79-bd2d-b7c240c18192) The term COPD mainly involves two related diseases — chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Although asthma also involves airway inflammation and periodic narrowing of the airway lumina (hyperreactivity), the condition is the result of individual response to a wide variety of stimuli/triggers and is therefore episodic in nature with fluctuations/exacerbations of symptoms. COPD is also called chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD). **![img-elderly-inhaler-COPD](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/hubfs/img-elderly-inhaler-COPD.jpe)Asthma**: Also known as chronic reactive airway disease, asthma is characterized by reversible inflammation and constriction of bronchial smooth muscle, hypersecretion of mucus, and edema. Precipitating factors include allergens, emotional upheaval, cold weather, exercise, chemicals, medications, and viral infections. **Chronic bronchitis**: Widespread inflammation of airways with narrowing or blocking of airways, increased production of mucoid sputum, and marked cyanosis. **Emphysema**: Most severe form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, characterized by recurrent inflammation that damages and eventually destroys alveolar walls to create large blebs or bullae (air spaces) and collapsed bronchioles on expiration (air-trapping). ### Nursing Care Plans Nursing care for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease involves introduction of treatment regimen to relieve symptoms and prevent complications. Most because with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease receive outpatient treatment, the nurse should develop a teaching plan to help them comply with the therapy and understand the nature of this chronic disease. Here are five Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Nursing Care Plans (NCP):     Ineffective Airway Clearance     Impaired Gas Exchange     Ineffective Breathing Pattern     Imbalanced Nutrition: Less Than Body Requirements     Risk for Infection     Deficient Knowledge   Adapted from NurseLabs https://nurseslabs.com/nclex-exam-asthma-copd-2-50-items/ Tags: [OASIS M1400 Shortness of breath](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/blog/topic/oasis-m1400-shortness-of-breath) [![you will make Medicare happy](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/375308/98f7e1e7-1e9a-44ed-994f-96665cf71930.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/375308/98f7e1e7-1e9a-44ed-994f-96665cf71930) ### Topics - [Clinical Best Practices for Home Health & Hospice (22)](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/blog/topic/clinical-best-practices-for-home-health-hospice) - [CMS News for Billing (6)](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/blog/topic/cms-news-for-billing) - [Conditions of Participation (16)](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/blog/topic/conditions-of-participation) - [COVID-19 (11)](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/blog/topic/covid-19) - [DX Alzheimers/Dementia (3)](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/blog/topic/dx-alzheimers-dementia) ### Recent Posts [![Power-Path-copy.ai_-2048x263](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Power-Path-copy.ai_-2048x263.png?width=2000&height=256&name=Power-Path-copy.ai_-2048x263.png "Power-Path-copy.ai_-2048x263")](https://powerpath.ai/) ## AI-powered EMR and outcomes-based marketing tools that help home health agencies operate smarter, improve patient results, and grow referrals—all in one HIPAA-compliant platform. - [How It Works](https://powerpath.ai/how-it-works/) - [Tools for Growth](https://powerpath.ai/tools-for-growth/) - [Meet Pattii](https://powerpath.ai/meet-pattii/) - [Resources](https://powerpath.ai/resources/) - [Blog](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/blog) - [About](https://powerpath.ai/about/) - [Contact](https://powerpath.ai/contact/) [Get Demo](https://melissa-myhomecarebiz.youcanbook.me/) ## © 2026 PowerPath.ai. 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