For a client with COPD, what is a priority goal of care?

For a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a fundamental goal of care is to maintain functional ability. This priority stems from the progressive nature of COPD, which can significantly impact a person's ability to perform daily activities due to airflow obstruction and respiratory muscle dysfunction. By focusing on maintaining functional ability, healthcare providers encourage patients to engage in pulmonary rehabilitation, participate in physical activity, and adopt lifestyle modifications that enhance their quality of life.

Patients with COPD often experience limitations in their physical and social activities due to breathlessness and fatigue. Fostering functional ability through targeted interventions helps to improve exercise tolerance, enhance independence in activities of daily living, and reduce hospitalizations. It is essential to empower patients to manage their condition effectively, enabling them to remain active and engaged in their lives despite the constraints imposed by the disease.

While addressing other aspects such as minimizing chest pain, treating infectious agents, and maintaining carbon dioxide levels are important in the overall management of COPD, they do not prioritize functional ability directly. Managing these secondary concerns can complement the primary goal, but without maintaining functional ability, the overall well-being and quality of life for the patient may significantly decline.