Common nursing diagnoses for pulmonary alveolar edema patients.

PAE can occur as a consequence of heart failure. Depending upon the extent of left ventricular failure, pulmonary edema can vary widely in severity. To anticipate potential health care needs and, ultimately, to treat PAE, the critical care nurse identifies common nursing diagnoses. Once the nurse understands the physiologic or psychological mechanisms for the particular nursing diagnoses, he or she can serve as a reference point to identify expected nursing outcomes.