Teaching Patients to Use the Incentive Spirometer

Purpose of the Incentive Spirometer

• Encourages patients to take slow, deep breaths.
• Helps expand lungs to prevent alveolar collapse (atelectasis) and pneumonia.
• Commonly used post-surgery or in patients with lung diseases like COPD or pneumonia.

Initial Steps

• Verify patient identity and readiness. Example: "DeAndre Williams, Date of Birth 12/12/19XX".
• Assess patient's ability to learn (awake, alert, and not in respiratory distress).

Explaining the Device to Patients

• Use simple terms: "This is to exercise your lungs and to prevent pneumonia."
• Avoid complex medical jargon (e.g., alveoli, atelectasis).

Instructions for Use

1. Preparation
   • Patient should sit up, preferably in a chair. If not possible, a high Fowler's position is acceptable.
   • Instruct patient to take a normal breath out.
2. Using the Device
   • Form a tight seal around the mouthpiece with lips (ensure the tongue is not obstructing).
   • Breathe in slowly and deeply, as much as possible.
   • Hold breath for 2-3 seconds.
   • Breathe out normally.
3. Monitoring
   • Observe the piston: indicates the volume of air inhaled.
   • Success monitor should be in the middle (marked as "better").
   • A fast breath will push the indicator to the top and back down quickly.

Demonstration

• Demonstrate the process: breathe out, breathe in, hold, breathe out again.
• Key observations:
  • Piston rise indicates volume.
  • Slow, deep breath indicated by the monitor.

Post-Use Instructions

• Encourage patient to cough after a few uses to clear secretions.
• Standard usage: 10 times an hour.
  • Suggest doing it during commercial breaks if watching TV.
  • Alternative: 2-3 times every 15 minutes.

Summary

• Ensure patient understands the process and frequency.
• Reinforce the importance of slow, deep breaths for lung health.