Problem
Sixty-year-old Philip has been having difficulty catching his breath for about 2 months. He finds that he gets shortness of breath even when resting. He has also been spitting up blood and has a wet cough and is hoarse. He states that he has had chest pain off and on, but now it has become more severe. He describes it as central chest pain. Philip was treated for a basal cell carcinoma of his upper lip 12 months ago, and he has been a heavy smoker for 40 years.
Task
Address the following:
• As the nurse about to care for Philip, what things would you consider in this case?