PURSED LIP BREATHING AND THE

USE OF THE INCENTIVE

SPIROMETER
BRENDA ALEXANDER
MARCH 30, 2017
NUR 3205
TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED

Name of skill
Step by step instructions
Reasons for performing skill
Special considerations
Common mistakes
Complications/risks associated with skill
PURSED LIP BREATHING

Pursed lip breathing helps you exhale more fully so that you take in more
oxygen rich air when you inhale
Use pursed lip breathing to control breathing anytime you feel short of breath
INCENTIVE SPIROMETERY

Using the incentive spirometer, also called a breathing exerciser, helps you
take deep breaths to open the air sacs in your lungs
This can help reduce the chance of developing breathing problems like
pneumonia
The use of incentive spirometry helps aids in recovery from surgeries
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR PURSED LIP
BREATHING
Breathe in through your nose as you slowly count to two
Purse your lips as if you are going to whistle
Breathe out gently through your pursed lips as you slowly count to four (you
breathe out twice as slowly as you breathe in)
Let the air escape naturally
Keep doing purse lip breathing until you are no longer short of breath
STEP BY STEP FOR THE USE OF THE INCENTIVE
SPIROMETER
If possible sit up straight (it may help to sit on the side of the bed or edge of
a chair)
Hold the incentive spirometer up right
Breathe out then close your lips around the mouth piece and take in a slow
deep breath through your mouth
As you take in a deep breath the chamber in the spirometer will rise, it is
important to breathe slowly to give the air sacks in the lungs time to open
STEP BY STEP CONTINUED

As you breathe in as deeply as you can hold your breath 3 to 5 seconds

Set the goal indicator to the level you reached
Take out the mouth piece and breathe out slowly
Relax until the piston returns to the bottom of the chamber
Repeat these steps 10 times every 1 to 2 hours (or as directed)
After doing the breathing exercises it is very important to breathe and cough to
eliminate all mucus from your lungs
REASON FOR PERFORMING SKILL
Pursed lip breathing is used to control your breathing when you feel short of
breath
REASON FOR PERFORMING SKILL

After surgery involving general anesthesia, good care of the lungs is

important in order to avoid pneumonia or any other fluids in the lungs.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

All teaching of skills should be patient centered and evidence based

Information should be delivered so it is easily understood by the patients
Make sure patients do the pursed lip breathing and incentive spirometry
correctly- use teach back with demonstration
Make sure the patient does not rush through completing the tasks so that they
dont become lightheaded or dizzy
 COMMON MISTAKES MADE IN PURSED LIP
BREATHING
Posture- sitting up so lungs can expand fully
Holding breath for too long
Miscommunicated instructions
COMMON MISTAKES MADE WITH THE INCENTIVE
SPIROMETER
- Breathing too quickly may cause dizziness
- Not taking a deep breath due to pain
- Posture- you have to let the lungs expand
properly
- Not using the device properly
COMPLICATIONS FOR BOTH
Becoming light headed or dizzy from breathing too quickly
If in pain and not breathing deep enough it can cause other medical issues
such as pneumonia
REFERENCES

Bowstead, T. and Jacobs, S. (2015). Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Living with a Chronic Lung
Condition. Staywell Krames, Inc.
Gasser, C. and Burrows, S. (2015). Going for Heart Surgery: What You Need to Know. Atlanta, Georgia.
Pritchett and Hull, Inc.
Pick, A. (2016). Heart Valve Surgery- Incentive Spirometer Benefits for Heart Surgery Patients. Retrieved from
http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/incentive-spirometer-benefits-lungs-surgery.php
Teaching Patient how to use an Incentive Spirometer. (2016). Retrieved from
http://web.a.ebscohost.com/nup/detail?vid=8&sid=265b8b9a-c636-4550-al5d-
b60c900a9c3c%40sessionmgr4007&hid=4204&bdata=JnNpdGU9bnVnlWxpdmUmc2NvcGu9c2102Q%3d
%3d#AN=v100644&db=nup
The Ohio State University. (2015). How to use an Incentive Spirometer. Patient education sheet.